Jayapataka Swami: Well, there maybe some people who are lazy. But in general, we find that people are more interested. Recently in Chennai, they advertised on social media, that they are having a class for beginners on Bhagavad-gītā, they expected about 100 people, 9000 people registered! 9000! So much interest! There maybe a few people who are lazy in the lockdown, but many people are very interested, because they are seeing that the Government, the doctors, the scientists, they want to do something, but there is a limit to how much they can do. But they are seeing people all around are getting sick, they are dying. They want to know, what is the solution? What is the reason why they are suffering? I just heard from the Sri Lankan president of our temple, that Government called an interfaith meeting. Does your scripture say anything about the pandemic, and what is the solution? Actually, in different Purāṇas they say that to cure incurable diseases, chant the name of ‘Hari’, chant the name of ‘Kṛṣṇa, Govinda’ and there are various verses. So, actually for devotees, we don’t want to chant for any material reason because we want to get love of Kṛṣṇa. But for people who have this concern or desire, it is better that they take shelter of Kṛṣṇa,there is a verse in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaṁ param
Whether you have no desire, all desire or many desires or desire for liberation, you should engage in pure devotional service. So, whatever the situation is, you encourage them to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and chant the name of Nitāi-Gaura! Nitāi-Gaurāṅga! Nitāi-Gaurāṅga! Nitāi-Gaurāṅga! So even today if one chants the name of Nitāi and Gaurāṅga, they get symptoms of ecstasy in their body. Haribol!
03-June-2020 SRI DHAM MAYAPUR, INDIA