Question: We understand from your classes how Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu promoted Harinam sankirtan, Kali yuga dharma. During initiation, we promise to do japa, that stressed the importance of japa and we are doing daily. But we don’t do kirtan everyday. Is japa also a form of kirtan? Also a yuga dharma? How performing japa can connect to kirtan?
Jayapataka...
Question: When we see our guru or other senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada, what should be our mood when we talk to them? Can we seek blessings from the senior devotees for our preaching, or should we earn that blessing from our guru and other devotees?
Jayapataka...
Question: A lady who is new to Krsna consciousness called Iskcon Kolkata to book a room at the guest house. But she was told no single lady could stay in an Iskcon guest house! She asked how to understand this, when devotee women are to be protected and sheltered. She also asked me why they don’t have the same rules for men? If they were to restrict any sinful activity, why only restrict women? It gives the impression that there is a lot of discrimination.
Jayapataka...
Question: Couple of days back it was mentioned that Ramanujacarya’s servant told his wife that everything a disciple has belongs to his or her guru. In our parampara, Srila Prabhupada gives the example of Rupa Goswami, 50% to be given to guru and Krsna, to be followed by Iskcon devotees. My question is, is there any sastric injunction in this regard, or the standard differs from parampara to parampara?
Jayapataka...
Question: We understand that Navadvip is non-different from Vrindavana. We know of pastimes in Vrindavana like manifesting Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda. How do we understand its manifestation in Navadvip dham?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to engage my daughter into spiritual life, Krsna consciousness as I am afraid she will lose interest. We, as parents, are trying our best. We need your guidance in parenting our kids in Krsna consciousness.
Jayapataka...
Question: I desire to serve Jagannath deity at home, What do you think, I will be able to do?
Jayapataka...
Question: Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and you also said that by liberating in the Navadvip Mandal parikrama, you liberate the whole world. Could you explain how this is possible? For 30 years Navadvip Mandal Parikrama has been performed by the Iskcon devotees, but it seems like only the world is getting worse! If more devotees participated, would that help purify the world more? Does camping throughout the parikrama intensify the potency of this yagna?
Jayapataka...
Question: While Lord Caitanya fell to the ground, the devotees were in anxiety. Similarly, when we perform devotional service like book distribution, cooking, etc. we have anxieties. Does anxieties in such service purify us or help us in reviving our lost relationship.
Jayapataka...
Question: Who specifically composed Srila Prabhupada’s pranati mantra and when was it composed?
Jayapataka...
Question: Guru maharaj you mentioned that anything good we do in Mayapur we get 1000 times the benefit, however what if someone offends residing in Mayapur and become lazy thinking just because I am in Mayapur, and everything will work fine. How do we see it?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is Mayapur management plan in case we find a corona case? Can she or he be quarantined in Mayapur guest house?
Jayapataka...
Question: Recently one transgender lady wrote me a letter that what is her hope in Krsna bhakti? And can she get the mercy of Mahaprabhu? How to invite and fit transgender persons in our devotee community?
Jayapataka...
Question: What mentality can we serve Krsna by, that we can serve Him very enthusiastically?
Jayapataka...
Question: If we have no intention to hurt any vaisnava, but a vaisnava gets offended due to our behaviour, we don’t want to offend, but devotees feel offended because of their own expectations, how can we overcome from such vaisnava offence when we even don’t know who got offended?
Jayapataka...
Question: Often we make wonderful plans or routine to improve bhakti. But after some days we fail to continue. Why does this happen? And what should we do then?
Jayapataka...
Question: Tomorrow is Aksaya Tritiya and Candan Yatra begins. If you could please speak something on this, please
Jayapataka...
Question: In Panca Tattva, three Prabhus are Lords and Gadadhara Pandit is sakti tattva and Srivasa Thakura is jiva tattva. Is jiva tattva expansion of sakti tattva?
Jayapataka...
Question What is the difference between Dharma and Truth.
Jayapataka...
Question: How to concentrate only on Krsna as our mind is not stable. Am reading Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavatam, and doing japa but not able to focus mind on Krsna?
Jayapataka...
Question: Please guide us how to check our own envy and how to deal with envious people?
Jayapataka...
Question: You talked about vaisnava aparadha. How to be careful to avoid offences that are committed unknowingly, vaisnava aparadhas?
Jayapataka...
Question: How as a disciple can we understand the mood of guru? And his heart?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to recognize a real vaisnava?
Jayapataka...
Question: What pleases you the most?
Jayapataka...
Question: The Lord gave His mercy to the dadi sannyasi by accepting prasada in his home. But we see that He did not give His immediate mercy to king Prataparudra. After many chances and by the help of the Lord’s associates. How to understand these transcendental activities of the Lord?
Jayapataka...
Question: For many years there have been disputes about the correct pronunciation of the Hare Krsna maha mantra in kirtanas and while chanting japa. As we know Srila Prabhupada did not put emphasis on strict rules in this matter. But in our society it is believed that the incorrect pronunciation of the holy name is one of the obstacles to bhakti. Residents of Bengal very often pronounce the holy name with ao. Some people due to the phonetic features of their language, cannot pronounce the holy names. For example, Chinese and others. Please let us know if it is ok to pronounce like Bengalis or which is the correct way?
Jayapataka...
Question: How should we pray to Gadadhara Pandit for our spiritual advancement?
Jayapataka...
Question: In one of the classes you said that nobody will realize the Lord and His devotees, without Their mercy. Please explain how to get Their mercy?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to avoid offending vaisnavas in mind especially when engaged in chanting japa and reading books?
Jayapataka...
Question: I am trying to develop my devotional life according to your instructions and Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. But cannot fall down again and again. How can I be free from this problem? I pray to your lotus feet so that I can be pleased by following your instructions properly and develop my devotional service I can be blessed by you
Jayapataka...
Question: Advaita Acarya got married pretty late. He was in such age when it was time to become vanaprasta, instead He showed an example of a prosperous grihasta. Why is it so?
Jayapataka...
Question: In various lilas of the Lord, the devotees of the Lord exchanged particular rasas with the Lord. In Caitanya lila, can we say that the associates of the Lord, Sri Nityananda Rama, Advaita Acarya and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, were in the mood of ecstatic love for each other, or is it specific rasas exchanged between Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?
Jayapataka...
Question: Why without Lord Nityananda’s mercy it is impossible to obtain uttama bhakti?
Jayapataka...
Question: When and how Lord Nityananda got initiation?
Jayapataka...
Question: Would you please explain how Nityananda Prabhu took food from westerners?
Jayapataka...
Question: I always have highs and lows in sadhana. I do few days sadhanas nicely, then it will be on lower side for a few days. How to maintain sadhana in progressively increasing manner?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to stop reacting to any provoking situation and respond to that situation?
Jayapataka...
Question: We should definitely respect and honor all the vaisnavas. But if some vaisnava offends some Guru in ISKCON, as a result I do not agree with him, am I committing a vaisnava aparadha? Even though he is offending (ninda) my gurudev?
Jayapataka...
Question: The living entity gets liberation in any of the forms of liberation. There are five kinds. What is the kind of liberation that we are talking about here?
Jayapataka...
Question: In Caitanya Caritamrita it is said that Sri Nityananda Prabhu is a full expansion and Sri Advaita Prabhu is the incarnation. Please explain the difference between expansion and incarnation.
Jayapataka...
Question: Being a sadaka many times there is a tendency of impersonalism within our activities. So, how can we overcome this tendency of impersonalism as a sadaka?
Jayapataka...
Question: Now that we are locked in all over the world, personal association of devotees is being missed a lot which is rare on its own accord. How do we get enthused without personal association?
Jayapataka...
Question: As per your desire I am trying to preach to a few friends online. I find it difficult to preach to those in the mode of goodness. They say, we are not in distress, we are happy in the present situation. We are good to others and they are good to us. We don’t see the benefit or feel the need to approach God or chant His name. Anyway He is always with us and we are living by His mercy. Guru maharaj, how do we preach to such people?
Jayapataka...
Question: Your disciple and my mother, Sandini Devaki dasi, Sri Sri Radha Govinda Iskcon Mandir, Narayan Ganj, was serving in preparing bhoga for Lord Jagannath. She was unwell for quite some time and last 7th April, 2020, she left her body. In this lockdown situation, no devotees were able to participate in her final rites. Under these circumstance, on 17th April, how will I fulfill the shradha ceremony? What should I do? Kindly advice as the temple is under lockdown.
Jayapataka...
Question: How to rectify the six kleshas and offences? Because I want pure chanting.
Jayapataka...
Question: In the Srimad Bhagavatam it says, nasta prayeshu abhadreshu. What does prayeshu mean?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to chant without mistake and how to correct our mistakes?
Jayapataka...
Question: The six goswamis were sannyasis then why would they wear white clothes? And when did the trend start that sannyasis wore saffron?
Jayapataka...
Question: In your Vyasa puja address you had said that any brahmana takes sannyas, he gets the title swami, any grihasta gets a title of goswami. But Srila Prabhupada had the title Swami and the six goswamis are Goswamis. But Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur is Goswami. Could you please elaborate on this?
Jayapataka...
Question: What should be the right mood to read the prayers from Srimad Bhagavatam, and what should we imbibe from that?
Jayapataka...
Question: Am I able to satisfy you by doing go seva and completing my rounds?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we make people understand that there is life after death and previous births?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we understand what Srila Prabhupada said that 70% surrender is enough to go back to God?
Jayapataka...
Question: We see some impersonalists chanting Harinam who don’t believe in His form, what will be their position after death?
Jayapataka...
Question: Please kindly tell us about self-sufficiency plans for Mayapur?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to convert corona consciousness to Krsna consciousness?
Jayapataka...
Question: In online preaching when new people ask about Radharani, how to answer?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to overcome the habit of sleeping more than required?
Jayapataka...
Question: The saṅkīrtana movement in the time of Lord Caitanya was massive. How come did the movement shrink so much after Lord Caitanya left? Till the point that it seems that only very few devotees kept the movement going for a number of generations, can we say the Golden Age has ups and downs?
Jayapataka...
Question: While chanting or reading, or hearing or speaking the pastimes of the Lord, is it ok to think that the Lord is in front of us or Guru Mahārāja, and all Gosvāmīs being in front of us? And will it truly happen to someone in the platform of sādhana-bhakti?
Jayapataka...
Question: How we as a devotee start taking spiritual life as our top most priority setting apart all other preference without duplicity.
Jayapataka...
Question : Somebody asked, what was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s role in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the meaning of love of Kṛṣṇa?
Jayapataka...
Question: The demigods were taking the forms of human beings in these wonderful pastimes to walk around with the devotees in different pastimes, is that happening even today that they take the form of human beings to participate in kīrtanas, festivals, etc.?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the significance of chanting in the brāhma-muhūrta. Not able to practice at home.
Jayapataka...
Question: How will we be absorbed in these sweet pastimes? How to do mananam?
Jayapataka...
Question: I have a question regarding a female devotee. How to keep bhakti strong in her family when no one else is a devotee at home. She faces a lot of difficulties while doing bhakti herself in home and no one is supportive.
Jayapataka...
Question: My devotional service is not consistent. One day I will be doing service or chanting with enthusiasm and some days it is not the same. Why is it like this? I want to improve my devotional service, but laziness has pervaded all over me. Please help me Guru Mahārāja!
Jayapataka...
Question: How shall we develop consistently these transcendental qualities like tolerance and humility. If not like Namacarya Haridasa Thakura but at least minimum requirements which pleases the Lord, vaisnavas and guru?
Jayapataka...
Question: How did Haridasa Thakura receive the Hare Krsna maha mantra at a very tender age? Who was his guru?
Jayapataka...
Question: Was Pundarik Vidyanidhi in Bhava or Prema stage? If so how could he make the mistake of finding fault or was it some arrangement by the Lord to send a message?
Jayapataka...
Question: If a disciple is very much eager to follow his guru’s instructions and please him, still he is unable to do because of obstacles, and because he is unable to do, he feels he is not qualified to follow his guru and wants to give up the task. What should he do in this case?
Jayapataka...
Question: I find faults with everything and everyone. Sometimes I cry because it seems that I really cannot control myself from doing that. I repent every time I commit offence and ask for forgiveness. But this process of committing offence and asking for forgiveness seems unending. I feel hopeless and terrible at the thought that I will never receive the mercy of Lord Caitanya and will have to rot in hell, in different bodies, being deprived of the association of the devotees. I seek your help to overcome this offensive nature of mine.
Jayapataka...
Question: I have children, no devotees, and their mother neither. I don’t live with them but I pay for their maintenance. I need your advice, thus I don’t fall down again. I follow the four principles and chant my 16 rounds and eat only Krsna prasad. I read every day Srila Prabhupada’s books and keep a small altar. I work as a security guard. Thank you for your mercy my dear master.
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes the perceptions that we have upon a person due to his past dealing, we become judgmental upon that person. In the future when they approach us or when we deal with them, these previous perceptions make us judgmental and later we speak with them, we learn it is otherwise. We know that people change over time and they may not be the same as before. But these impressions are strong and does not help us to truly help the individual. Kindly advise.
Jayapataka...
Question: Please explain how to enthusiastically perform devotion on a daily basis?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we know if our tolerance and humility are growing? Is there a self-test as suddenly when a provoking situation comes, I see how intolerant I am.
Jayapataka...
Question: When we chant the holy name, it is recommended to listen to our own chanting. Is it ok also to hear another chanting like Srila Prabhupada, you or other vaisnavas who chant purely?
Jayapataka...
Question: Can we say that those persons who are materially successfully, they were pious Hindus in their previous lives, and can we say that western devotees who are very serious spiritually, they were Indian devotees in their previous lives?
Jayapataka...
Question: During the stormy wind, it was very fearful throughout the night. Even being in Krsna consciousness, being fearful indicates that we have a long way to go to be fearless in such situations. So how to overcome this fearful situation and take shelter of the Supreme Lord completely?
Jayapataka...
Question: In the holy dham there are many nice dhamvasi families who are Muslims. They are very nice people but they do not believe in Lord Krsna or in Lord Caitanya. Where will they go after they leave their bodies?
Jayapataka...
Question: If someone lives in a family where his/her spouse or parents are continuous offenders of sadhu, guru, vaisnavas or Iskcon, could you please advise the procedure to deal with these types of unavoidable relationships?
Jayapataka...
Question: When a person who is aspiring from a bonafide guru and the guru has left the world, and the person still considers him as his spiritual master, how does this work?
Jayapataka...
Question: Guru Maharaj, you said that if the husband is a devotee then the wife can acquire brahmanical qualities. What if the husband is a non-devotee and the girl is a devotee?
Jayapataka...
Question: We sometimes admire the qualities of some people who do not practice Krsna consciousness but they have pious qualities. We cannot determine their devotion but they do not practice Krsna consciousness. Is it okay to admire their qualities? And what qualities should we consider material?
Jayapataka...
Question: You have just read that kirtana yagna is the best yagna for the age of Kali yuga. How does kirtana compare to japa? Is the benefit greater in kirtana than in japa?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we know if our attachment for Krsna is increasing?
Jayapataka...
Question: [Audio break] 2020 as inauspicious, due to the pandemic. But many devotees of Krsna and many new people are taking to the process of Krsna consciousness. So how should we see this Gurudev?
Jayapataka...
Question: If somebody having different faith is not inclined to chant Hare Krsna, how can they be inspired to chant Hare Krsna?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we achieve in our spiritual life, that every moment, we are trying to please Srila Prabhupada? What is the process to achieve this consciousness?
Jayapataka...
Question: Now during these troubled times, many people are getting realizations about how they should take their relationship with the Lord more seriously, care for mother earth, care for each other, etc. But when things get better, what is to prevent them from losing their resolve to do better and going back to the same old ways? If it pleases you, what are your thoughts on the matter?
Jayapataka...
Question: When I am chanting the holy name, my mind is not supporting me. It always thinks different issues. How can I control and continue my chanting smoothly?
Jayapataka...
Question: We know there are 14 worlds, there are 7 worlds above and 7 under. Those who do pious activities, they go to the upper worlds. And those who commit sins, they go down like Patala, etc. But Bali maharaj even after attaining the Lord went to the Sutala loka? And the Lord also was there as his gatekeeper. Why is it so?
Jayapataka...
Question: I am from a Christian background and now he is a new devotee and Krsna conscious. How to increase my inspiration and enthusiasm to practice Krsna consciousness.
Jayapataka...
Question: We are so attached to Hare Krsna maha mantra. How best can we be attentive in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we preach in a strong Muslim and Christian community in Nigeria?
Jayapataka...
Question: You mentioned that by preaching a devotee’s sins start to get cleared quicker. I am desirous of preaching, however, I am fearful of imparting incorrect/incomplete information due to my imperfect knowledge. What is the best way to begin the process of preaching for any devotee?
Jayapataka...
Question: I sometimes become very much afraid or panic a lot for some small, small, health issues. I cannot keep myself steady and start thinking negative and worry that what will happen to me next? But Gurudev we have always seen you so much motivating and steady, even when you had gone through serious health issues! How will that same determination come in us? I often tend to break down!
Jayapataka...
Question: Besides connecting with disciples or well-wishers do you use the social media now connecting with leaders, managers and for other managerial purposes?
Jayapataka...
Question: So besides this program being a big part of you connecting, I think it is one of the biggest medium through which you connect to your disciples and well-wishers, but you have so many of them across the globe. Would you also like to share what are the other ways you also connect? So many numbers, you probably have hundreds of devotees writing to you, wanting to get inspiration from you. So besides this program is there any other form of communication, any modes of communication you follow during this lockdown period?
Jayapataka...
Question: With the program being such a huge success, how do you feel? Would you like to continue this even after the lockdown? How do you see this program going forward?
Jayapataka...
Question: Maharaj, do you feel a difference in your relationship before you started this program when there was before COVID when you were connecting to devotees by email or Facebook or even face to face, versus now when you have the home visit programs? Do you feel this has enhanced your connect to your disciples and devotees?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the most compelling factor that inspired you to start the home visit program?
Jayapataka...
Question: When we are together, there are times when we have arguments and I suffer. How do I take this?
Jayapataka...
Question: Can the conditioned souls participate in Lord Gauranga’s pastimes after developing love for Him and being engaged in His service?
Jayapataka...
Question: Since the Lord is unlimited and always expanding can we say that at every moment there are more jivas expanding or emanating from Him. Is the number of jivas increasing?
Jayapataka...
Question: Can we apply varnas to devotees, in what cases and how important are varnas for devotees? When a devotee serves the deities in the temple, doing different kinds of services, can we say he is doing services in a particular varna?
Jayapataka...
Question: (it is a repeat question): Prahlada maharaj was always thinking of Krsna but Krsna appeared in a from of him as Nrsimhadeva. So in which loka does Prahlada maharaj stay? After His disappearance, someone said that Nrsimhadeva has His own loka in the spiritual world.
Jayapataka...
Question: Lord Balarama seemed to be more merciful to Duryodana, accepting him as His disciple, and He wanted Subadra to be married to Duryodana. And also did not approve of the way Bhima killed Duryodana. While Lord Krsna was always siding Pandavas. How to understand these apparent differences between the Lords?
Jayapataka...
Question: What are the signs that can be observed when a devotee unknowingly or unwillingly commits vaisnava aparadha?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can one further enhance the mood of devotional service in spite of the material challenges one may face in their lives.
Jayapataka...
Question: Can we meditate on Lord Balarama as the Rama in the maha mantra? If so, how can we meditate on the Hare before Balarama? Is it okay to still meditate on Srimati Radharani, or does Lord Balarama have His own internal potency?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to develop internally or grow internally? What extra efforts are required apart from chanting?
Jayapataka...
Question: We learn that Lord Gauranga is Krsna and Lord Nityananda is Balarama. So where was Lord Nityananda when Lord Caitanya was taking the mood of Balarama? Does this mean that Lord Caitanya feels everything that Balarama or Nityananda feels? Since He is His first expansion?
Jayapataka...
Question: My query is, which service is better? Previously when I was involved in deity related services like making flower garlands or jewelry making, I used to feel a strong connection with the Lord. Then my leader asked me to go and do preaching activities. Now when I am trying to preach, I am not feeling the same attachment for the Lord. Thus I am confused. Which seva is better? To do deity seva in the temple, or to go out and do preaching activities?
Jayapataka...
Question: I am a regular listener of your classes and hear the classes with attention. But not able to keep them in memory. What should I do to keep these in memory?
Jayapataka...
Question: Lord Siva being a great vaisnava, why can He not take anyone to Krsna? Also, being in the Rudra sampradaya being a bona fide sampradaya, they cannot go back to Godhead someway?
Jayapataka...
Question: If we break fast today with Ekadasi prasadam I remember you saying that it helps one if one has accidentally broken Ekadasi fast and also it is related to guru, right? Could you please elaborate on this?
Jayapataka...
Question: When Hiranyakasipu glorified Brahma he says that Brahma is the Supersoul of all beings. We read from the Bhagavad-gita that Krsna is the Supersoul. We see the same glorification of Lord Siva also when He drank the poison. Please helps us understand this Guru Maharaj.
Jayapataka...
Question: If someone misunderstands am I guilty of offence?
Jayapataka...
Question: Even with so many obstacles, how do I preach with determination?
Jayapataka...
Question: In this pathetic situation of COVID-19 pandemic personally we are distributing grain prasadam of khicri, etc. On Ekadasi day or Nrsimha caturdasi, is it right to distribute grain prasadam? If we do, will we be committing sin?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we understand by what science that a devotee went to the spiritual world after leaving his or her body?
Jayapataka...
Question: Prahlada Maharaj was always thinking of Krsna but Krsna appeared before Him as Nrsimhadeva. So in which loka Prahlada maharaj stays after his disappearance?Someone says that Nrsimhadeva has His own loka in the spiritual world?
Jayapataka...
Question: In this lockdown situation, how can we staying at home, observe Nrsimha Caturdasi? Could you please tell us something.
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we serve Lord Krsna constantly, without getting into sense gratification?
Jayapataka...
Question: I heard that the only thing that Lord Gauranga asked to His mother was to follow Ekadasi. Why is it so important to follow Ekadasi?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes, in the temples they ask to which gotra we belong? Please Guru Maharaj what shall we say?
Jayapataka...
Question: It is written, the Bhagavad-gita is Lord Krsna’s spoken words and Srimad Bhagavatam is the description of pastimes and activities of Lord Krsna. But some unscrupulous people they claim to be God and have all kinds of mental concoctions. How can these people come out of the clutches of these cheaters and how can they get the nectar of Krsna consciousness?
Jayapataka...
Question: I mostly chant my 16 rounds in the early morning, and sometimes extra rounds during the day, while feeding the children, and sometimes while cooking if possible. Guru maharaj, will that be considered as nama aparadha as I am not attentive.
Jayapataka...
Question: In one of the previous chapters we heard that prasadam is so auspicious that even if it falls from a dog’s mouth, it can be taken. But when any relatives come to our home, who are not practicing bhakti yoga, they left prasadam on their plates – can it be taken too?
Jayapataka...
Question: It was mentioned that the sannyasi with Saraswati title will be very attached to music, by the mercy of Goddess Sarasvati. Was our Parama Guru Acarya His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada very good in singing?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to neglect or ignore the evil chatter of the mind?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we preach to my relatives, who are fully in different moods and practice different so called sahajiyā paths?
Jayapatākā...
Question: During those times when this līlā with Chand Kazi took place, did people in Bengal know Christianity?
Jayapatākā...
Question: If all the places that Śrīla Prabhupāda visited are holy places, then please can you explain why Śrīla Prabhupāda still encouraged the devotees to visit the holy dhāma, in particular, Māyāpur and Vṛndāvana?
Jayapataka...
Question: Guru Mahārāja, in the night when we put our Deities to sleep, can we keep Prabhupāda chanting near the Deities, the whole night, is it ok or we should not do it?
Jayapataka...
Question: If I get pains by someone that time, I feel stressed in myself. So, is it my karma or attachment? How do we control?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to know which path we should opt when we are confused, as both being devotional?
Jayapataka...
Question: Arjuna being a nitya-siddha, he always accompanies the Lord in various pastimes. How about the souls like Duryodhana? Do they also accompany the Lord or different souls?
Jayapataka...
Question: What can we do to help the Golden Age start from now? I am chanting extra and recommending near and dear ones to chant. Also preaching in YouTube to chant, but is there is anything I can also do to help the Golden Age start from now?
Jayapataka...
Question: 1. If Lord Brahmā is subject to birth, death, old age and disease, then why Bhagavān has created different worlds instead of one world, where all can reside together? As the material world entities have limited potential? 2. Why so many lokās in this material universe when all living beings are subject to birth, death, old-age, and disease?
Jayapataka...
Question: I can feel always that you give mercy to me though I am very fallen and unpurified soul. Without guru’s mercy, I cannot do anything. But sometimes I feel a great distance from the spiritual master in my mind. Dear beloved father, how can I feel, perceive that you, guru, are always with me and I am at your lotus feet?
Jayapataka...
Question: In the Caitanya-bhāgavata, description, it describes that Lord Caitanya’s procession went through many towns from here to the Chand Kazi’s house, and afterwards to Śrīdhara aṅgana. The distance from here to the Chand Kazi’s place and Śrīdhara aṅgana is quite short, and some of the mentioned towns and villages mentioned are far from here like, Gādigāca etc. Please can you kindly explain?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we understand the contradictions in the details of the Lord’s pastimes? Though they don’t cause much difference in the pastimes, how can we know which one is correct?
Jayapataka...
Question: Is it appropriate for ISKCON devotees to charge money from audience by teaching Krsna consciousness philosophy and kirtana, and maintain their household life from that income. I am asking this because usually we do everything free in the temple but when some new people meet devotees, who charge money for teaching Krsna consciousness philosophy and kirtan, the new people get confused thinking that maybe they are going after money.
Jayapataka...
Question: When we preaching how do we count people? What should we not do and how should we preach? Please tell us.
Jayapataka...
Question: I have a daughter who is 9 years old and I am running a company. I have lot of things to do service. Sometimes my daughter gets angry. As a grihasta how to make balance between services and grihasta life?
Jayapataka...
Question: I live far away from the association of devotees how can I keep myself Krsna conscious?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do I preach to people who already have their own tradition like Buddhism, Shintoism, because when I talk to my mother, she is really understanding of me but she doesn’t really get deeper from that, of course she understands what I am doing, and she likes the photos of RukminiDwarakadish and everything but I find it sometimes hard to preach to her, because she already has her own belief in Shintoism and Buddhism. So I was wondering how to preach to people like that, I think there are a lot of people like that in Japan?
Jayapataka...
Question: To please Krsna we must preach Guru Maharaj, so how can we please Guru Maharaj you?
Jayapataka...
Question: My question is related to giving charity. In the current situation due to corona, we see that many around us are suffering in various ways. One of our acquaintances has asked for financial help, as she was alone, away from home and sick, and we helped that person. But when we give charity to causes other than those related to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, does it incur karma. How do we transform it as a service to the Lord, then just to alleviate someone’s suffering? How can we offer help without any karmic involvement of both the parties?
Jayapataka...
Question: Is it also the same conducting the funeral rites by the side of the Ganges, as when we bring the ashes of the departed soul to the banks of Gaṅgā, and do the prayers there?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes we get attached to any specific seva we have been serving for a long time. Is it considered aasakti, if so how to get rid of the same in our sadhana?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the difference between detachment and renunciation?
Jayapataka...
Question: In which parampara are we – Bhagavata parampara or siksa parampara?
Jayapataka...
Question: Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s son had the opportunity to take part in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. I couldn’t understand how he could choose to go back to Godhead, that this opportunity?
Jayapataka...
Question: How could I get back my pure devotional sense to guru and Vaiṣṇavas and Their Lordships, Nitāi Gaurāṅga?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to increase our adhikāra, dear Guru Mahārāja, in order to increase our good fortune to get love of Kṛṣṇa, just by tasting the remnants of Lord Gaurāṅga?
Jayapataka...
Question: In some countries there are regular disciples’ meeting,in some not yet. Please explain how important is it for you that your disciples come together and glorify you, read your books, etc. Can meetings be online or are periodic face to face meetings important too? How important is it for your disciples to unite and build a family atmosphere among themselves?
Jayapataka...
Question: Our temple is located on the fourth floor in a residential building. Is it an offence if we do not dance at ārati but simply stand or sit because the neighbors are disturbed?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes we hear that Nārāyaṇī by taking Lord Caitanya’s remnants, she felt ecstatic symptoms for Lord Kṛṣṇa. But sometimes we see we get Pañca-tattva’s mahā-prasāda from the temple, we accept the prasāda of the Pañca-tattva, but we are not feeling such ecstatic symptoms, why is it so?
Jayapataka...
Question: We hear that many materialists are suffering personal clashes due to living together all the time at home. What mood should devotees adopt to avoid such clashes at home and live harmoniously?
Jayapataka...
Question: If I aspire for a guru and unfortunately lose my body, will my aspiration or desire be fulfilled in the next birth, or carry forward?
Jayapataka...
Question: When we try to move toward Krsna consciousness why we are rolling more and more in the hindrance of this material world? How to overcome this and take the path of Krsna consciousness without deviation?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes we see that a particular service is not done in a very organized manner. I do get some ideas on how to improve and correct it. But I may not have the adhikara to interfere. Would it come under fault finding? What is the best approach in such matters?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do we keep ourselves in the mood of serving your instructions?
Jayapataka...
Question: In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna says that He remembers everything, what we have done in the past, present and future. But He doesn’t have a beginning, middle and end to know about the secret. He says one has to reach Vaikuntha. Question is: how come Lord Krsna has no beginning? Eager to understand how He has no beginning? Second is can you advise, why soul in this material world is actually separated from the spiritual world?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to do book distribution till the normal situation gets back?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we measure our bhakti?
Jayapataka...
Question: I am confused about my duty. We girls always busy in serving our family, do not get time for service to guru and temple. Devotees say that taking care of our family members is also service to guru. Is it so gurudeva? But I am feeling bad that I am not doing any sevā for you. Is it ok gurudeva? If I do my sādhana at home and serve my family, and do no to do any service to temple? Please bless me guru maharaj to get time and strength and chance to do sevā at your lotus feet.
Jayapataka...
Question: I am not able to concentrate on one service. My mind is fickle minded. Whenever I see a new service, I am attracted to the new service. Please tell me how to keep my mind fixed in one service and in this way I will be a proper disciple who will be serving you for your pleasure.
Jayapataka...
Question: Daily I read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam but I also want to read other books like Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa Book and other books. How do I manage my reading of different books?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to preach that Krsna is the Supreme Lord? Especially to those family members who are far away from us. They are pious but consider all gods equal.
Jayapataka...
Question: I have heard that it is not good to offer praṇāma to anyone, taking japa beads in hand. But in chanting time when Vaiṣṇavas come there and then what can we do? If we stop chanting to do praṇāma to the Vaiṣṇavas then it will be tough to complete 16 rounds. Again, if I do not show respect to Vaiṣṇavas for chanting, then it will be a vaiṣṇava-aparādhā.
Jayapataka...
Question: It is due to the sukṛti that me and my husband cannot live with the devotees and be happy advancing in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Is Kṛṣṇa who decided that? What can we do?
Jayapataka...
Question: Could you please explain why the soul need to take a new body in the spiritual world? Whether the soul itself is sat-cit-ānandamaya?
Jayapataka...
Question: Kindly advise how to overcome ego and jealousy?
Jayapataka...
Question: The verse in the Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila, 13.30 gopi bartopadakalmalayor dasa dasanudasaha – it is so nice to hear, read and understand the verse. We may say your servant but find it very difficult to follow Srila Gurudev.
Jayapataka...
Question: In this material world we have several kinds of relationships like father, mother, husband, sibling etc. and sometimes we get into too much attachment with them. Hence this love, attachment, becomes a bane for our devotional service. How can we get rid of this kind of over attachment?
Jayapataka...
Question: If someone is unable to distribute books but instead if they sponsor the books, will that be considered as book distribution?
Jayapataka...
Question: Many times we have to plan to perform devotional service and because of physical stress or mental stress or some reason we are not able to do our devotional service as we planned for. Seeking your blessings of how to overcome this mental sickness.
Jayapataka...
Question: We know that chanting our rounds is our utmost priority. But sometimes there is an urge to do other things. Can you share some general things we should consider whether we should do the activity or japa?
Jayapataka...
Question: After a person leaves the body, during the 11 or 13 days after that, is the soul still around in the material world around his previous family or is he already taken to other worlds for jurisdiction based on karma? Why is there the 11 day period of abstinence from deity service?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes if we get the reversible result of any service, how to take it positively and how to overcome that situation with enthusiasm?
Jayapataka...
Question: I am an aspiring devotee. What is the best way to prevent the mind from thinking of the past and the future when chanting the holy names.
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the benefit of writing realizations by listening to guru’s lectures? Can it be done daily or only on Vyasa puja day?
Jayapataka...
Question: I want to bring deities. I want to serve but I am not very good at deity service. I like surrender,I like bhava. I am actually most unqualified materially and spiritually. But I desperately want Gaura Nitai and Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra maiya at home. Please give your precious advice.
Jayapataka...
Question: In the class last week we heard that it is ok to accept the prasadam of Lord Siva, thinking that he is the foremost of vaisnavas. Similarly, if the prasadam of other devatas like Ganesa, Kartikeya, etc. are offered to us, should we accept thinking that they are also servitors of the Lord? Is it considered offensive if we don’t take the prasadam?
Jayapataka...
Question: What if a disciple breaks his initiation vow?
Jayapataka...
Question: You always say there is heart to heart connection between guru and disciple, but please tell what is the position and relationship of your aspiring disciple? How can we connect with you?
Jayapataka...
Question: In the Siskastakam in the 8th verse Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that even if Krsna makes be broken hearted by not being present before Me, He is completely free to do everything. But practically it is very difficult to imbibe this mood. How we have to be in this mood?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to develop compassion and merciful attitude towards other vaisnavas, keeping all the conditioning of one’s mind aside?
Jayapataka...
Question: We can clearly see in these pastimes, how these great devotees of Lord Caitanya became the recipient of the Lord’s mercy. But in our life as a sādhaka, not all days go good. But we can understand that whatever we are, is purely the Lord’s mercy. But sometimes we feel we are worthy of being the recipient of the mercy of the Lord. So how can we overcome this mind speculation?
Jayapataka...
Question: Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme knower, I don’t know still, if I have some trouble or need something, should I pray to the Lord for the same? Or believe that the Lord knows it and will provide what is needed?
Jayapataka...
Question: Today we heard that Lord Caitanya says Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura as senāpati of His devotees. And we heard that Śrīla Prabhupāda is the senāpati-bhakta. So, in every period will there be a senāpati-bhakta appearing to spread the movement, like Narottamadāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and our Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Jayapataka...
Question: In today’s class, what feeling made Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura cry, holding Lord Caitanya’s feet?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we develop even a drop of loving, surrender to Lord Caitanya like Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura?
Jayapataka...
Question: What was the destination of the soul of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s son, the son says I am now going to another father and mother. But because he died hearing Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu’skīrtana, will he have rebirth or go back to Godhead?
Jayapataka...
Question: Bhaktivinoda Thakura worked in Odisha but we don’t get to hear the names of vaisnava saints from Odisha as much as we hear from Bengal. Any specific reasons?
Jayapataka...
Question: Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s books are mostly high philosophy. So would it be appropriate for anyone to read them?
Jayapataka...
Question: My question is what are the top three things that we can learn from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s life? That we can practice as grihastas to perfect our lives?
Jayapataka...
Question: Amongst the Navadvipas, Ritudvipa, Jahnudvipa and Modadrumadvipa apparently seem far away. Do they touch Antardvipa directly as the part of the eight petals surrounding Antardvipa?
Jayapataka...
Question: Your role in fulfilling Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s prediction and obviously Srila Prabhupada has accomplished that and you have been very instrumental in this. What is your realization in seeing all these predictions becoming a reality in all these decades of you being one of the main leaders of the ISKCON movement, and how can we all contribute to further in this legacy from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura?
Jayapataka...
Question: Guru maharaj you earlier referred to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura preaching in very adverse circumstances, when the British were ruling India. Sometimes as grihastas, we may say these different kinds of opposition in some circumstances, some cultures may accept Krsna consciousness to different extents. How can we learn from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, what were his strategies in dealing with opposition and successfully preach Krsna consciousness?
Jayapataka...
Question: Guru maharaj, you mentioned the Godruma Kalpatavi. We know that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was a prolific writer and you have commented on one of his books, and we hope you comment on many more. But regarding the Sri Godruma Kalpatavi, what is the importance and what can we learn from that book? Can you please explain?
Jayapataka...
Question: Now you mentioned the namahatta, what does namahatta exactly mean? As I understood it is the marketplace of the holy name. Can you please describe further what the namahatta actually is – is it some extraordinary marketing strategy or there is something else to it?
Jayapataka...
Question:. You mentioned also how Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura reestablished Krsna consciousness in India in the 19th century. And he is known as the precursor of the revival of the sankirtana movement, in this modern age through the namahatta.
Jayapataka...
Question: You mentioned that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was a grihasta, he had many, many children, he had a job, he had many regular responsibilities. How can today’s grihastas, family people, married devotees, learn from his super excellent example? How can we follow these sort of examples?
Jayapataka...
Question: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is revered as the pioneer of Krsna consciousness. So in honoring his legacy, today on his disappearance day, we would like to hear from you what does it really mean to follow his footsteps?
Jayapataka...
Question: Parīkṣit maharaj was cursed to die in 7 days and being a pure devotee he did not get angry or depressed that for a small mistake he is being cursed to die. He just took it as the will of the Lord and surrendered to the Lord, and then became the instrument for Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to be delivered through Śukadeva Gosvāmī. How do we as sadakas, we develop this mood of surrender and complete dependence on the Lord?
Jayapataka...
Question: Is there any pastime connected with Hari Hara deity. What is the significance of this rūpa of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His dear devotee Śiva?
Jayapataka...
Question: Lord Śiva as ksetrapalaka is also applicable for all ISKCON temples?
Jayapataka...
Question: We knowingly or unknowingly do vaiṣṇava aparādha, to control that what we want to do at that time? Guru maharaj please guide me.
Jayapataka...
Question: If some temple there is no president in the temple. There are temple council members managing. In that area, some devotee, they are not following devotee worship standards, not following rules and regulations. How can we cooperate with them?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we take care of devotees? We see that some devotees come for a time and after, they run away. This is very frustrating. Please help me to understand the proper care of the devotees.
Jayapataka...
Question: I have a question related to chanting japa mālā. Sometime back at a program while chanting time, I did not have my mālā and I was chanting on a counter, clicking. Then someone handed me a japa mālā from one of the many malas kept there for devotees to chant. Then I accepted it. Then someone else told me, no, you being initiated should not chant on any mālā used by other people. Is it really so? Can’t we chant on any japa mālā in a situation where we don’t have our own? Kindly bless me to have a taste in chanting and chant more.
Jayapataka...
Question: We understand from the Bhāgavatam that when Brahmā created Rudra, he found his descendants dangerous and asked him to do penance. We also hear Rudra was initiating a sampradāya. It looks contradictory. Requesting you to enlighten us.
Jayapataka...
Question: When we have done some sinful acts before we came to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whenever we come across someone showing that act and showing our mistake, how to take it? But now I am in a great movement, doing all services, and doing my regular sādhana and following all the instructions, and in the association of devotees. Please help me, how to face these incidents and become stronger in my sādhana?
Jayapataka...
Question: Lord Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, whoever remembers Me, comes back to Me. So it is already predestined in people’s karma that at the time of death, a certain individual may remember Kṛṣṇa and go back to Godhead. Is it a personal choice or freewill?
Jayapataka...
Question: If any of our relatives leave their body, for how many days should we observe and not touch the altar? As I am not initiated, so how many days should I observe and how many days should an initiated disciple observe? Please kindly enlighten me Gurudeva.
Jayapataka...
Question: As a manager, how to solve disputes between devotees?
Jayapataka...
Question: It was a revelation to hear the Sivastakam as recited by Lord Caitanya. But we don’t seem to recite in our temples nor do we celebrate Śiva Rātri in our temples, highlighting this. Please correct me if I am wrong Guru Maharaj, and enlighten us.
Jayapataka...
Question: When our authority misunderstands us, how to deal with that devotee, so that we do not lose the relation? Please show some light on it dear Guru Maharaj.
Jayapataka...
Question: Why Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is thinking that he is fallen in this material world?
Jayapataka...
Question: Many girls in our group are chanting 16 rounds and reading Bhagavad-gītā, vegetarians and attending regular classes,and are aspiring to take initiation from you, Gurudeva! But when it comes to śikṣā papers, they get stuck in the 8 rounds paper, because it has no onion and garlic. Most of the girls want to leave onion and garlic because of staying with parents and pressure that they get from them; they are not able to leave. Gurudeva, what can we do under such situations?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we also develop the surrender and love what ŚrīvāsaṬhākura had?
Jayapataka...
Question: All the devotees from the spiritual world, Yaśoda, Nanda Mahārāja, etc. were nitya-siddhās who appeared in Gaura-līlā, but Śrīvāsa had a wife and children in Gaura-līlā, how do we understand this?
Jayapataka...
Question: When praying for our spiritual master, we are desperate to have their association and when we pray for their stay here, we cannot really say, from the heart, the phrase ‘if Kṛṣṇa desires’ because that means we are okay to accept, even if the Lord desires otherwise, is it due to my deep rooted bodily concept of life? Please help me to be sincere in my prayers.
Jayapataka...
Question: Are insects and animals that die during kīrtana get liberation from material bondage? and what could be the destination of a mosquito after being killed by a devotee, while chanting the holy name, and what could be the reaction to the devotee?
Jayapataka...
Question: I heard that Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita is the embodiment of a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Could you tell us more about him, I understand that he always accompanies Lord Caitanya in His pastimes, who is he in the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa?
Jayapataka...
Question: When is a devotee qualified to start a bhakti vrksa? If a bhakti vrksa has more than 15 devotees, but they are not ready to form small bhakti vrksas, what can be done?
Jayapataka...
Question: Our intention is to preach more and more, but sometimes we offend devotees who are creating hindrances in our preaching activities. How do we avoid this? Or sometimes we take offence to those hindering our preaching activities. How can we avoid these?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the qualification of sradhavanjana? How does he act? Does he act blindly on blind faith? What are the qualifications for shradavajana
Jayapataka...
Question: This bhakti vrksa work for new devotees. However in our movement we have so many young people who grew up in the movement, but as adults even after having tasted the nectar all their lives, are not practicing Krsna consciousness actively. They may in their hearts love Krsna, but they don’t chant and participate in ISKCON activities. How do we “preach” to them?
Jayapataka...
Question: How does karma work for those who commit suicide? Is it their free will or is it because of their previous karma?
Jayapataka...
Question: I heard you want your disciples to have a good sādhana? What is considered to be a good sādhana for a lady with a little child, as it is difficult to get up early, and I have to finish my rounds throughout the day, not early in the morning.
Jayapataka...
Question: You had mentioned before yesterday, about Bharata Mahārāja, who even though he was very advanced in spiritual life, he took birth as a deer. In the Bhagavad-gītā 2.40, it is mentioned that any advancement in this path can protect us from most dangerous type of fear, and Śrīla Prabhupāda said, at least we will have a chance to be born as human being. Please explain.
Jayapataka...
Question: ŚrīlaPrabhupāda told his disciples that when he is no longer in this planet, he would be present with them as caitya-guru. That he would be with them through dreams and their heart. Can you tell us about this relationship? And if this relationship is also same with all other gurus?
Jayapataka...
Question: This 21st June is solar eclipse and half day fasting due to the appearance day of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. How can we observe that fasting? Kindly guide us.
Jayapataka...
Question: Herein Śrīvāsa doesn’t lament at the death of his son but rather advises not to lament. Whereas Advaita Ācārya lamented when His son Gopāla, fainted and fell unconscious while dancing. How do we understand this apparent contradiction?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we get the mercy of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and how do we pray to him?
Jayapataka...
Question: When the soul leaves the body with a certain mentality, he the soul, will get a body keeping the same mentality? Even though he had been chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa for years?
Jayapataka...
Question: When we fall into trouble and misery, it is very difficult for us to stay calm. Different thoughts and tension arise in our mind. In that time, how to fix our mind to Śrī Guru Mahārāja and Kṛṣṇa.
Jayapataka...
Question: Are there any signs by which we can understand that Kṛṣṇa accepted our service to Him?
Jayapataka...
Question: Please explain what a devotee or a servant of the Lord means? Is there any difference between them? What does it mean to want to become a devotee?
Jayapataka...
Question: In recent years my team and I have been spreading the holy name and distributing Bhagavad-gītās. Even though many people chant and read, still they are not elevated to the level of spiritual realization. Please mercifully tell us the secrets of spreading the holy names.
Jayapataka...
Question: In the context of King Bahulāśva and the poor brāhmaṇa episode, There is largely growing concern in the masses that ISKCON society, internationally, it only belongs to the rich, opulent in high material positions,and considered as good devotees, and also they are more close to gurus and sannyāsīs. Whereas meek, humble and submissive poor devotees are considered less fortunate,and even those lose their position, their opulence, are bereft of the mercy of less mercy from gurus and sannyāsīs. Similarly, their humble, poor offerings are considered less significant. How should we deal with it within the society and with public at large?
Jayapataka...
Question: Due to work I need to contact non-devotees from time to time, sometimes more than four or five hours constantly, and I felt that my consciousness was affected. For a few days the quality of my chanting dropped directly, how can I maintain my consciousness to be undisturbed?
Jayapataka...
Question: Nāradamuni is a pure devotee of the Lord and comes to the material world in a spiritual body as and when he likes to preach and make devotees. However, we see that Krṣṇa sends all our ācāryas, and Śrīla Prabhupāda and you, who are pure devotees, to this world in material body for preaching. The material body means suffering for the ācāryas, spiritual master, and even we disciples are very much pained in our heart to see such suffering of the ācāryas spiritual master. Why does Krṣṇa not send our ācāryas in a spiritual body? Because for him to do this is very easy.
Jayapataka...
Question: When Lord Caitanya came to Rāmakeli, He was told not to go to Vṛndāvana with many people. But today we see devotees bring many others to Vṛndāvana, is it wrong or not?
Jayapataka...
Question: My question is based on yesterday’s lecture. What does it mean to listen with full faith?
Jayapataka...
Question: We come to Kṛṣṇa out of love and sometimes out of grief and sorrow. I heard that Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, once said to the Lord that He can do as He pleases, whether push him away or embrace him. My question is, if we go with sorrow to Kṛṣṇa, will He embrace me or push me away as He likes? How to understand the mood of the Lord?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can we enhance the mood of treating family members practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness as devotees rather than family members?
Jayapataka...
Question: My question is that I heard Gaura Nitāi cannot be offered Dvādaśī-bhoga on Ekādaśī fasting day? Is that so?
Jayapataka...
Question: Devotional service is always pure and transcendental, but Lord Kapiladeva says to His glorious mother Devahūti, about devotional service in goodness, passion and ignorance. How can it mix with material or material mix with devotional service?
Jayapataka...
Question: It is said that the Chand Kazi is Kaṁsā in Kṛṣṇa-līlā. Would you care to speak on this?
Jayapataka...
Question: While offering bhoga I sometimes get late due to which my family members get irritated maybe because they are too hungry, or they need to take prasāda and go out for work. So, they tell me to hurry up and do some shortcut of this offering process. But I don’t know any shortcut bhoga offering process. I do as per you taught us. Bur generally it takes time, they become very impatient. It seems that instead of wanting to offer to Kṛṣṇa, they want to have it first.
Jayapataka...
Question: What happens if one devotee does not forgive another devotee?
Jayapataka...
Question: We hear in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that the Lord and His devotees gave out so much mercy. My question is how can we make the best use of the mercy?
Jayapataka...
Question: I feel that I don’t get the same interest in hearing Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta as I have for Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, I found it difficult to understand anything even after reading it many times, I feel it is beyond my understanding.
Jayapataka...
Question: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the most merciful no doubt. But why didn’t Mahāprabhu accept Choṭa Haridāsa after he pleaded for his mercy, after committing a sin and eventually gave up his body in His separation. Please enlighten Gurudeva.
Jayapataka...
Question: When can one call your spiritual master as Mahārāja or gurudeva, when one takes initiation or when one accepts him in the heart?
Jayapataka...
Question: Kazi was offensive to the Vaiṣṇavas. He even arranged for the beating of the Vaiṣṇavas. But he got the vision of Lord Narasiṁhadeva,and also special meeting with Lord Caitanya, which would be difficult to imagine for a sādhaka like me. So kindly please help me understand this episode.
Jayapataka...
Question: If in my opinion, I did some service really not good enough and I do not dare to offer it, can I offer my motives, desires, thoughts, for that very service? Sorry for my ignorance.
Jayapataka...
Question: Caitanya Mahāprabhu controlled the Chand Kazi as Narasiṁhadeva. But my question is that how will Mahāprabhu kill the lusty desires in me? and another question is, when we are not able to chant for some reason then is it okay to just hear the recording of the chanting of Srīla Prabhupāda or Gurudeva?
Jayapataka...
Question: When we see the ladder in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, niṣṭhā comes after anartha-nivṛtti. So, is that I will become steady in practicing devotional service after I become free from all anarthas?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes our affection and compassion to someone turns to attachment. As a result, we experience suffering from that attachment. Kindly guide us the procedure to deal our personal relationships without being attached.
Jayapataka...
Question: When one dreams of one’s spiritual master and receives instructions from him, can we consider these dreams completely real?
Jayapataka...
Question: How can I get rid of mental speculations?
Jayapataka...
Question: It is mentioned that only after self-realization one attains the stage of understanding devotional service. That one who is in the bodily concept of existence cannot understand the process of devotional service. Nārada-bhakti-sūtra1. Could you kindly elaborate on this?
Jayapataka...
Question: King Pratāparudra and Rāmānanda Rāya both were externally materialists, having opulent positions, but internally pure devotees. Why Lord Caitanya kept King Pratāparudra away because he was wealthy and materialistic, but discussed most confidential pastimes with Rāmānanda Rāya? Same is the case with Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, who was externally exhibiting himself as a materialist, but internally he was a pure devotee. What is the difference between King Pratāparudra externally a materialist, and Rāmānanda Rāya and Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi externally a materialist or have opulent, material positions?
Jayapataka...
Question: In the Nectar Of Instruction, Srila Prabhupada said that devotional service is ahaitukiapratihata. Bhakti is not affected by any mundane cause or curtailed by any material interruption. My question is, how do sinful activities slow one’s progress in devotional life?
Jayapataka...
Question: What is the difference between liberated soul and conditioned soul?
Jayapataka...
Question: Just like you have mentioned that devotees should be like Haridasa Thakura, that we should try to decrease the worry of Lord Caitanya, can you please elaborate this Guru Maharaj?
Jayapataka...
Question: What can I do so that you become most happy? Kindly tell me.
Jayapataka...
Question: On behalf of CDM from Mayapur How can we assist congregational members all around the world in their service to Srila Prabhupada?
Jayapataka...
Question: Some people are not taking up Krishna consciousness seriously, in spite of preaching to them for a long time. What do we do and how long we should try?
Jayapataka...
Question: We have been fortunate to receive your spiritual instructions. Can you also give us some instructions how to conduct our material life, especially our official life, which we do like eight hours daily? What would be our mood in doing that? I basically work for an IT company as a consultant. How can I utilize this duty of mine also by aligning to instructions, of what Krishna mentioned that whatever duty you do, do it for Him?
Jayapataka...
Question: When new people come to Bhakti Vrksa, they see we are doing potluck prasadam. And they also want to bring something for offering. We tell them to use a clean vessel, not used for nonveg. And do not use garlic and onion. Even if they are eating meat. Is it okay?
Jayapataka...
Question: Chand Kazi stopped saṅkīrtana, devotees were beaten by him still Lord Caitanya showered His mercy upon him. At that time there were some people in Navadvīpa who were brāhmaṇas and others, who were accepting the scriptures although they were envious to devotees. But the Lord did not give them mercy. How can we understand this?
Jayapataka...
Question: How is a devotee empowered to preach and distribute Krsna consciousness to everyone? Seeing the condition of the people, I am feeling to preach. But how can I be able to do so? As a person in society, as a common person, if I preach to any of my friends or neighbors etc. they will see and consider us differently, like as we come from another planet.
Jayapataka...
Question: Like Chand Kazi, my mind is always trying to hog my progress. Please bless me so that I can serve you in a more humble way.
Jayapataka...
Question: What should be our mood while celebrating Panihati festival?
Jayapataka...
Question: How do I get the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu?
Jayapataka...
Question: Is there any equivalent pastime in Krsna lila with Panihati?
Jayapataka...
Question: During this lockdown, how can we celebrate Panihati festival at home?
Jayapataka...
Question: Did this pastime happen after Lord Caitanya left this world? Is that why Lord Caitanya was invisible?
Jayapataka...
Question: Who was the first person who organized the hot milk, condensed milk, yoghurt, banana with fruits, sweets, who was the first organizer?
Jayapataka...
Question: During the lockdown, many people are relaxed and staying at home, not showing an interest in spiritual life. How can we inspire them to value and appreciate Kṛṣṇa.
Jayapataka...
Question: How can I increase my faith to guru and Gaurāṅga that they will give mercy to me surely although I am a very fallen soul? I have no quality to serve them and get Their mercy.
Jayapataka...
Question: How to avoid negativity amongst devotees? Transgressing the devotees sometimes due to certain actions of some devotees brings negativity and we end up transgressing them either mentally or in person.
Jayapataka...
Question: Still, people are persecuted while they attempt to preach in communist Government. countries. So how can devotees relate to these pastimes while seeing Mahāprabhu leading civil disobedience?
Jayapataka...
Question: How to preach to Durgā-devī worshippers without offending them? They are getting angry if we call her Māyā-devī.
Jayapataka...
Question: Please tell me how can I guide the person, who is asking how to select or get a spiritual master? He is desiring to get a guru very seriously.
Jayapataka...
Question: Tomorrow is Pānihāṭi festival. Devotees in China do not have ciḍā. They are asking what they can cook to offer and how they can celebrate?
Jayapataka...
Question: Sometimes I try to serve or do something good for Vaiṣṇavas, but sometimes they misunderstand me. Then I have also lost my desire to serve Vaiṣṇavas,in that case, how can I handle these situations? How can I prosper my desire of service to those Vaiṣṇavas?
Jayapataka...
Question: How come even an atheist be so hard hearted that even on seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing, their heart didn’t melt?
Jayapataka...
Question: How should we observe Nirjalā Ekādaśī?
Jayapataka...