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 Swami: These are the pastimes of the Lord, since Advaita Prabhu is the Lord, His pastimes are transcendental. Rukmiṇī lamented the loss of her son Pradyumna. Lord Caitanya said, you haven’t lost Me, why do you lament? I am just acting! So, sometimes we see...

Question: We all really feel very much aggrieved when a great Vaiṣṇava or a close family member, or a friend leaves this world. In view of this fact, could you please elaborate how we should correctly understand Lord Kṛṣṇa’s statement in the Bhagavad-gītā, chapter 2, text 11. Those who are wise, lament neither for the living nor for the dead.

Guru Maharaj: You said that we are very aggrieved when a great Vaiṣṇava or a very close member, or a friend, leaves the world. So, I don’t know how you are saying all the things in the same breath. That the lamentation on the departure of a great Vaiṣṇava, is because...