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 FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE # 1

CONTENTS
3 Editorial 25 Addressing Bhakti-våkña Leaders
ISKCON Chennai, Tamil Nadu

4 26
The Glories of Chanting the Holynames Remembering Çréla Prabhupäda
Panjabi Bagh, New Delhi -Mäyäpur Memories-

8 Sunday Love Feast 28 Every Town and Village

ISKCON, Chennai A Travelling Preacher’s Diary

11 Meeting with IYS Girls 31 Vaiñëava Ke?

Chennai, Tamil Nadu What Kind of Devotee Are You?

12 Question & Answer Session

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

16 Ratha-yäträ Inaugural Speech

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

17 Ratha-yäträ Evening Talk

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

19 Initiation Lecture
Chennai, Tamil Nadu

21 On 4G Bhakti-våkña
COVER PAGE PICTURE

23 Gaura Bhägavata
FEBRUARY 15th 2008
Ratha-yäträ, Bangalore, India

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 EDITORIAL
important than his vapu, or physical association.
Staying Connected Eternally...
Therefore we decided to bring to you every month
“There are two conceptions – the physical
a magazine dedicated to giving you all Guru
conception and the vibrational conception. The
Mahäräja’s väëi association. Çré Guru Prasaìga is
physical conception is temporary. The vibrational
the name of this wonderful magazine.
conception is eternal… When we feel separation
Çré Guru Prasaìga is our humble attempt
from Kåñëa or the spiritual master, we should try
to connect you (disciple/well-wisher) with Guru
to remember their words or instructions, and we
Mahäräja’s väëi form and thereby give you
will no longer feel that separation. Such association
the transcendental opportunity to always be in
with Kåñëa and the spiritual master should be
his much-sought-after, multi-faceted, glorious
association by vibration; not physical presence.
association, which we are sure will kill all boredom
That is real association.” and unhappiness resulting from needless material
– Çréla Prabhupäda (Elevation to Kåñëa aspirations and transport you to the spiritual realm.
Consciousness - p.57, 1973 edition) Hare Kåñëa.
Dear god-brothers, god-sisters, and well-wishers. Your humble servant,
Hare Kåñëa. Please accept our humble The Editor
obeisances. All glories to our beloved Guru
Mahäräja! All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!
When Lord Kåñëa walked into Kaàsa’s
wrestling arena, different people perceived Him
differently, although Kåñëa was, is, and will be
the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, full
with the six opulent qualities. Very few recognized
Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for
most of them had imperfect vision. And if Çréla
Prabhupäda had not come down to instruct us , to
let us know that Kåñëa is the Supreme personality
of Godhead, we would not have known Kåñëa as
such. So the instruction of the spiritual master is far
more powerful in enlightening us than his physical
presence. Of course, this “lack of physical presence
or absence” doesn’t refer only to the disappearance
of the spiritual master; rather, it broadly means that
he may be in another city or state, away from where
one is at any given time. Therefore it makes sense
when we say that Guru Mahäräja’s vani is more

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 Our äcäryas have sung, “gåhe thäko, vane chants the holy name. And by chanting these holy
thäko, sadä ‘hari’ bole òäko,” “Whether you are in names, one can experience the presence of Kåñëa.
a renounced äçräma – that could be brahmacäré, And in the supreme bliss, then they can be fully
vänaprastha or sannyäsé – or whether you are a absorbed in Kåñëa. So whether one is a gåhasta
gåhasta, everyone should chant the Hare Kåñëa or whether one is a vairägé, everyone should chant
mahä-mantra. the holy names. And this chanting is beyond any
Actually, there are many sädhanas, many caste or rules.
different yogas. Of all the yogas, bhakti-yoga is There are three stages of chanting: the
the most direct. In Bhakti-yoga, the one service offensive stage, the clearing stage, and the pure
that the devotees do, even in the presence of the stage. Even if one chants offensively, he goes to
Lord, is chanting and hearing His holy names. Say the heavenly planets. And if they chant accidently
one remembers the Lord... If He is present, then meaning something else, like Ajämila... He named
devotee will observe Him directly. If you see the his son Näräyaëa. So he would call his son, “Hey!
Lord; you will observe Him. You don’t close your Näräyaëa, come here! Sit on my lap! Näräyaëa!
eyes; you watch your Lord there. And you don’t Take prasädam with me! Hey! Näräyaëa! Let’s go
do deity worship if the Lord comes. But even if for a walk! Hey! Näräyaëa! Come!” So he would
the Lord is present, you still chant His holy name. chant Näräyaëa! Näräyaëa! And when he was
Even Yashoda, while churning butter, would chant dying, the Yamadütäs came, ready to take him off.
the names of Kåñëa [like] “Gopäla! Kåñëa!” And He called his son, “Hey! Näräyaëa! Näräyaëa!
the gopés would also chant even in the presence Näräyaëa!” And he called Näräyaëa even though
of Kåñëa, “Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa he meant his son.
Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma The Viñëudütäs came and said, “We are taking
Hare Hare.” So, it is very important that everyone him!”

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 names of Räma. And one day, a lightening hit her
house and she died and the parrot also died. Then
the Yamadütäs came to take her, because she was
doing some sins. But the Viñëudütäs were are also
coming. When they saw that the Yamadütäs were
ahead of them they said, “What is wrong with these
people? Don’t they know? She chanted the names
of Räma! These Yamadütäs! Every time! They
make such mistakes! So, they came in and cut the
ropes. And the Yamadütäs asked, “Who are you?
“We are Viñëudütäs!” “We are Yamadütäs! No
one stops us! We take sinful people and they get
punished in hell. So we are taking this lady. She is
a sinner.”
“She chanted the name of Lord Räma, she
is free from her sins. We are taking her back to
Godhead.”
And the Yamadütäs said, “No! No! He is a Yamadütäs said, “No! We don’t accept!” And
sinner! He is a dacoit! He is a thief! We are going then they threw hot coals on the Viñëudütäs; but
to take him.” the Viñëudütäs held up their club and created a
“No! He chanted the name Näräyaëa! He is type of force field, so that the hot coals bounced
going with us.” on the field and came back to Yamadütäs. And
Guess, who won? then the leader of the Yamadütäs came forward.
He is known as the crusher; he can crush anyone.
(Guru Mahäräja asks devotees)
So, the head Viñëudütä came forward, he is known
Devotees: Viñëudütäs, Viñëudütäs!!! as Kripalu. So, the Yamadütä, with all his force,
There was one lady. She was young – she took his club and he hit the chest of the Viñëudütä.
was like 36. Her husband had died due to some Viñëudütä took his sword and just tapped. The
diseases. But she was a bit lusty. So, she would Yamadütä started coughing blood. Yamadütäs
entertain different men. So, her father-in-law left. Viñëudütäs took the lady and went back to
said, “Listen, it is your life, but I have unmarried Godhead. (Haribol!!!)
daughters. If you act like this, they will think Of course, she was just chanting the name of
my daughter is also like that. So better you live Räma! She liked to chant, she was chanting. She
separately, otherwise you follow very chaste life wasn’t chanting of getting rid of her sins. She
and stay here.” She lived separately and she had a didn’t think of that. If one chants, thinking, “I can
parrot. And her parrot would chant Räma-näma, sin more! Let me chant, and sin more,” that is the
“Räma! Räma! Räma!” So she would chant with seventh offense to the holy name. That should be
the parrot, “Räma! Räma!” “Räma! Räma!” She avoided. These are the people, she chanted the
actually developed some attachment to chant the holy name, just… you can say, unintentionally, not

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thinking that it was a holy name. But, she was in a All the brähmaëa’s present were very impressed
clearing stage. by this. The sin personified, when he saw Lord
Now, pure chanting like that can give one love Caitanya, ran. And Lord Caitanya roared out,
for Kåñëa. And Kåñëa came down in Dväpara- “Haribol!!!!” Haribol!!!!” And Lord Caitanya
yuga. He was in Våndävana, in Mathurä and in took His begging bag. He was only 8 or 9 years old.
Dvärakä. He came to Delhi (Hastinäpura) also Upanayanam ceremony lasts one day. He went to
for some time because of the Päëòavas. Päëòavas His neighbours’ houses and begged, “bhikñäà-
were His friends. He went to Kurukñetra twice. dehé” “Give me alms.” The ladies in the house
Once, for the war and once for the solar eclipse. gave, rice and some vegetables. And they were so
Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
but the devotees in Våndävana didn’t consider
Him so; they loved Kåñëa because Kåñëa was so
wonderful. Kåñëa has unlimited forms, unlimited
names. So you worship Kåñëa as His expansion
or directly. At first, we do devotional service. It
gradually becomes pure devotional service; and
from pure devotion it becomes prema-bhakti. So
to get prema-bhakti is not so easy. Kåñëa came in
the mood of Rädhäräëé. In that form He is known
as Gauranga!
Gauräìga appeared in Mäyäpur. When He
was nine years old, His father desired to give him
Upanayanam. So, he fixed an auspicious day. He
invited all the relatives, neighbours, and friends.
Some senior brähmaëas came to do the needed
saàskära. They set up the yajïa. Some musicians
came and played music and some dancers came
and danced. Some brähmaëas chanted auspicious
mantras. So little Viçvambara was getting ready
for the saàskära and they shaved up His hair. He
happy; they smiled. And Lord Caitanya went from
bathed in the Ganges. He wore tilaka and saffron
house to house.
silk cloth. And they gave Him a brahmacäré
Later, when Lord Caitanya was a sannyäsé,
daëòa. So He was re-enacting the pastime of
Vämanadeva. But as He picked up the stick, He after 24 years of age, He travelled all over India
remembered that in this Kali-yuga lélä, He would for some years. He went from Orissa to Andra-
deliver the fallen souls. He would give them the pradesh, South-India, Maharastra, Gujarat, then
Harinäma and later, He would take sannyäsa. came back to Puré. He then went to Väräëasé,
Thus remembering, He was emanating brahma- Prayäga and then to Våndävana.
tejas. I don’t know whether He came to Delhi, which

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is very close to Våndävana. It is said that He would Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. The ten offenses
travel with one servant. And He would stay in a to the holy name have the effect of taking away our
different house every night. The wife would pour taste for chanting. So, we have to be very careful,
water on His feet, and the husband would massage not to commit the ten offenses to the holy name.
His feet. Then the couple would feed Him, and He It is not offensive to ask a question to a senior
would lecture to the family and their neighbours. devotee. Because that is the adhikära we have.
So, like this, He spent some years. But, if you challenge or blast a senior devotee,
“Hey! Non-sense! Who are you to tell what to
Question: You have explained the chanting.
do? I see, you never wash your socks every day.”
Sometimes we find it very interesting. We
That is offensive. So, we should avoid offenses
sometimes like to chant more and more. And
and, if we are much too attached to material sense
sometimes we feel like not chanting at all. How
gratification, that can sometimes mask the taste.
can we develop a taste for chanting and improve
But if we keep on chanting, it could be easier to
our concentration in that?
taste the holy name. The offenses are bit a harder
Guru Mahäräja: Sugar-coat your harinäma to adjust. But this is one of the anarthas, and
(laugh). If you chant the Païca-tattva mantra first, there is a stage called anartha-nivåtti. So, that is
then your harinäma will be super-charged, or you already a couple of steps up. And if one is able to
can say that it is like putting honey on it. çré-kåñëa- notice this, it is a good sign. So pray to Lord and
caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara chant the Païca-tattva mantra and chant with full
çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda. Hare Kåñëa Hare attention. Within a short time, you will be able to
Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare concentrate again. (Haribol!!!) [END]

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 We are having a Sunday feast lecture. I just material world, He has His Viñëu avatar. Mahä
wanted to mention one thing about bhakti-våkña Viñëu, Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu and Kñérodakaçäyé
program. I heard a secret from Varada Kåñëa Das, Viñëu, Ananta Deva. So some are avatars and
Vijaya-Veëu Gopäla Däsa and Prema Padminé some are in the spiritual world. In the spiritual
Devé Däsé. They have a new bhakti-våkña format. world, Näräyaëa has four arms. But Kåñëa and
Same thing, but faster. They call it, “4G.” “Give, Räma, are special. They are both in the spiritual
Give, Give, Gauräìga!” But, since this is a secret, world, and They also descend to this material
I can’t say anything else. You have to enquire world as avatars. So Kåñëa was here in Dväpara-
yourself. But because you want to make 5000 yuga and Räma was here in Tretä-yuga. And Kåñëa
bhakti-våkñas, you may need this “4G” method. came as a devotee in Kali-yuga as Lord Caitanya
Of course, the beauty of bhakti-våkña is that there Mahäprabhu. So this material world [though real],
is only a one-day meeting a week, and another is described as illusory because it is temporary;
one-day meeting for some organizational meeting. so the material world is real but temporary. Most
Some husbands and wives are worried, “Oh no! I people are fully conscious of their bodies and they
never see my husband!” Or, “I never see my wife want bodily pleasures [that the body gives], but at
in the house!” They don’t have to worry about that the same time, the same body gives us suffering.
now. They can have plenty of time for the house. So, although we have a body with senses with
That depends how close you live to the temple, which we can enjoy, the same senses can cause us to
and if you want to attend. suffer. Now it is winter in Chennai– very pleasant.
In South India, there are lots of temples of It is winter also in Delhi, but it is freezing cold–
Lord Näräyaëa. In Käïcépuram, there is a deity fog in the air, gets close to 8 °C in the day and gets
of Vaikuëöhanätha. The deity of Vaikuëöhanätha, to 1 or 2 or 0°C in the night. The same senses with
Näräyaëa, doesn’t descend to the material world, which we enjoy here will freeze in Delhi. So we
He always stays in Vaikuëöha. To descend into this want to have happiness that is not dependant on

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the senses. And that is possible by bhakti yoga. deity but disrespect the Vaiñëavas are known
While we are in this material world, sometimes as präkåta-bhaktas or neophytes. So we should
we enjoy with our senses and sometimes we be very careful not to disrespect anyone; if we
suffer; but, side by side, we should be cultivating are, then we can easily reach the Vaikuëöhaloka.
our spiritual form. We know “we are not this Chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra includes all the
body,” but most people don’t at all think in this other practices. Chanting and hearing are highly
way. That’s why reading the Bhagavad-gétä is so recommended. Kåñëa is present in His holy name.
important. There are nine practices of bhakti-yoga It is one of the rare services that one can offer
– çravaëaà, kértanaà, viñëoù smaraëaà päda- even in the presence of Kåñëa. For instance, you
sevanam, vandanaà, däsyaà, sakhyam, ätma- don’t offer prayers to Kåñëa if He is there, but the
nivedanam: devotees would chant Hare Kåñëa even when the
Lord is present. We chant Hare Kåñëa and other
Hearing, chanting, remembering, offering
mantras also when we perform deity worship.
services, offering prayers, being a servant, being a
So this chanting awakens our dormant Kåñëa
friend, and offering everything in total surrender.
consciousness.
So how many did I say? I left one out just to
So please chant
test you. I mentioned only eight. [And that is]
arcanaà, worshipping the deities. The deities are Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa
also avatars and these arcävatäras, the deities, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare
can be new or old or can be of medium years. Hare Räma Hare Räma
For instance, Çré Raìganätha, is very very old– Räma Räma Hare Hare,
He came from the Kñérodakaçäyé ocean, He was worship the deities, and listen to the classes.
worshipped by Brahma; even Vivasvan, the Sun-
Kåñëa easily gives bhukti and mukti because
god worshipped him. In this way, Çré Raìganätha
that doesn’t bind Him at all, but if He gives prema
came down to Lord Räma. Vibhéñaëa was going to
bhakti then He has to sometimes put Himself
take Him to Çrélanka, but they ended up staying
under the care of his pure devotees like Mother
in Çrérangam with the help of Lord Gaëeça. So
Yaçodä. In the Dämodara month, Mother Yaçodä
there are ancient deities like Çré Raìganätha, Çré
tied him up with a rope. So liberation? Yes, here,
Jagannätha Puruñottama, of medium age deities
take it! But prema-bhakti, He gives very seldom.
like Lakñmé-Nåsiàha in Vijayawada. Those deities However, Lord Caitanya gives prema-bhakti
were made by Yudhiñtira (5000 years old), while very easily; He is Kåñëa in the mood of Çrématé
our deities here are only 3 years old. Rädhäräëé. Çrématé Rädhäräëé is very merciful.
All the deities who are installed by präëa- She is Madhana-mohana-mohiné; Kåñëa can
pratiñöä and mantras are there to give blessings attract even the cupid by his beauty, but Rädhäräëé
to you. But if someone offends pure devotees, can attract Kåñëa! Therefore she is known as
then those deities will not accept offerings. So Madhana-mohana-mohiné. When Kåñëa wants
most devotees are very careful not to offend any to experience the kind of love that his devotees
Vaiñëavas. Paramätmä is present in everyone’s feel for Him, He comes as Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
heart; so the Vaiñëavas see that and offer respects When He was nine years old, His father taught it
to all living entities. People who worship the about time he gave Him upanayanam, which is the

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sacred thread-giving ceremony. So He picked out on His feet and the husband would clean his feet
an auspicious day (I don’t know if it was pongal and massage. He would come in and the wife would
day or not; maybe you know). He invited his cook prasädam for Him. The husband would
neighbours, relatives–everyone. serve the prasädam. Then the family and some of
Jagannätha Miçra was going to have a big its neighbours would sit down and hear a lecture
festival for Lord Caitanya’s upanayanam. So that from him. Bhägavata Puräëa says that Kåñëa did
day, he shaved Lord Caitanya’s hair. They took him this in some places. So, like this, Lord Caitanya
to the Ganges to bathe, gave him a saffron cloth give His association to thousands of gåhastas. So
to wear, and a stick and a begging bag to carry. please chant Hare Kåñëa: Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa
As lord Caitanya bent and picked up the stick, Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare Räma
He remembered that in this lélä, he would become Räma Räma Hare Hare, worship the deities and
listen to the classes.
a sannyäsé and deliver the fallen souls and give
them pure Kåñëa-bhakti and, as he rose with the Guru Mahäräja Addresses
walking rod, He began emanating brahma-tejas Book Distributors
or brahman effulgence, and the sin personified, I am very inspired that this temple is so
who was watching, got frightened when he saw enthusiastic about book distribution. And
Lord Caitanya and ran away. Does sin personified remember: the year 2015 is the 50th anniversary
run away when he sees anyone? But when he saw of Çréla Prabhupäda’s departure from India–
Lord Caitanya, he ran! Lord Caitanya felt so Çréla Prabhupäda got on the boat in Calcutta,
much mercy building up within that He started sailed through Chennai, stopped in Colombo, and
roaring and roaring and all the elderly brähmaëas went past the costal tip of Kanyäkumäré; then he
watched on and said “Very good, Very good!” stopped in Cochin before cruising on the waters of
Then his father told the mantra in his ears and Suez-canal and Mediterranean sea until he got to
gave him the brahmin thread with 3 strands. Then Boston, then New York, USA. This year is the 50th
Lord Caitanya went to the neighbours’ houses and anniversary of Çréla Prabhupäda’s departure from
held out his begging bag, saying, “bhikñäà dehé,” India and next year is the 50th anniversary of his
and the ladies in the houses, smiling, gave rice, arrival in America. There are few ways in which
potatoes and other things. So, in this way, Lord we can express our gratitude to Çréla Prabhupäda.
Caitanya was showing his Vämana-lélä again. In One way is distributing his books. Thank you very
kali-yuga, it is prohibited to be a karma sannyäsé. much for your efforts, and I look forward to seeing
Some people can take Vaiñëava sannyäsé, which the further increase [of book distribution] this
means always staying in service. But most people year and the next, and on and on.
get married. We can see that the gåhastas have Last year, Mäyäpur, Tirupati, Punjabhi Bagh,
such a great opportunity to serve the lord. Mumbai, and Chowpatty were among the top ten
When Lord Caitanya came in search of his [book distributors] in my zone. But in the future,
brother Viçvarüpa, for 6 years, he visited Chennai, I want to see Caitanya-Nitäi Desh[listed as one of
Tirupati and various places, each night staying the top ten book distributors].
overnight with a different gåhasta. The husband Chennai Ki... Jai... Thank you very much.
would receive Him and the wife would pour water [END]

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 People don’t understand how important it is to on the bank of the Ganges. He said, “What have
spiritualize their lives. you been doing here the whole night?” And he
Lord Caitanya said, “Bolo Kåñëa! Bhajo said, “On this pathway, there are many hard stones;
Kåñëa! Koro Kåñëa Siksha!” “Chant Hare Kåñëa! your feet may be hurt!” When he [Jagadänanda
Do devotional service for Lord Kåñëa! And read Paëòita] turned and saw the smiling face of Lord
the teaching of Lord Kåñëa.” Caitanya, his anger disappeared. Then the Lord
Bhagavad-gétä was spoken by Kåñëa and the told Jagadänanda, “You come back home with us.
Bhägavatam was spoken about Kåñëa. The IYS You take something to eat and rest for a while.” So
teaches people to do devotional service and chant Jagadänanda grabbed on Gadädhara’s feet and he
Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare / rose up and walked with them.
Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. Jagadänanda now popped something into
I am translating the life and pastimes of Lord his mouth and then went to sleep. And when he
Caitanya at present and we are up to where He woke up, Lord Caitanya was waiting for him. Lord
is 9 years old. So, when He was 8 years old, He Caitanya said, “We are together, so it is natural
had an argument with Jagadänanda Paëòita. They that sometimes we disagree and get angry. That
were studying in the same school. Jagadänanda, anger having subsided, our love for each other has
who left Lord Caitanya [after the argument], increased.” Then Mother Çacé and Jagannätha
was angry and upset. So he went and sat by the Miçra came with a plate of rice soaked in milk.
Ganges the whole afternoon. He didn’t eat, and And they gave it to Jagadänanda and said, “Please
he was crying. He spent the whole night crying. eat!” So, like this, Jagadänanda ate his milk and
So, before sunrise, just early in the morning, rice. And then Jagannätha Miçra said, “Time to go
Lord Caitanya came with Gadädhara prabhu, to school!” So, after taking a quick bath, they ran
looking for Jagadänanda Paëòita, calling out, off to school. Like this, in the childhood pastimes of
“Jagadänanda!” “Jagadänanda!” They found him Lord Caitanya, there was a lot of loving exchanges

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between the devotees and the Lord. Kåñëa is both in the spiritual world, and comes
The Båhat-bhägavatämåta states that Näräyaëa down as an avatära too. So, when He comes, the
always lives in Vaikuëöha; that He doesn’t descend. gates of love for Kåñëa are wide open. Lord Kåñëa
He rather expands into Viñëu forms, like Mahä- doesn’t give love easily. But Lord Caitanya, is
Viñëu, Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu, Kñérodakaçäyé Kåñëa in the mood of Rädhäräëé. So, He gives love
Viñëu. I mentioned that in the class today. Lord easily. [END]

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

12th January 2015, ISKCON Chennai
Question: How many rounds of neck beads freed from the prärabdha karma by the practice
should one wear? of bhakti yoga.
Guru Mahäräja: No Vaiñëava should wear just Question: Is the second initiation the complete
one round of kanöé-mäla, but somehow, the non- initiation? I mean, is the first initiation alone not
initiated sometimes wear one round. One should complete initiation?
not wear more than five rounds. So that leaves 2 or
Guru Mahäräja: Çréla Prabhupäda said that
four rounds. So, usually, when one is initiated, he/
one can go back to Godhead just with the first
she is given a set of three-round neck beads, but
initiation. The second initiation puts you on the
they can wear a strand of neck beads that is 2, 4 or
fast track, and you make advancement faster with
5 rounds. Hari oà tat sat .
its help. But if you don’t follow [the brahminical
Question: I have more material and physical principles] strictly, then the second initiation
problems. In this situation, how can I serve the can slow down [your progress]. Prabhupäda told
Lord? Please give me a way. me once that I could be a little lenient when
Guru Mahäräja: I wonder why this person recommending candidates for the first initiation,
thinks, “There are more problems for me!” Have while for the second, I should be very strict. Second
people done a worldwide study? Have they done Initiation allows one to worship the deities, cook
an online survey? How do they know that they for the deities, perform fire yajïas, etc. That’s
have more problems? why, for the second initiation, we prescribe some
I can give some practical suggestion, but for extra reading. We are a little bit lenient in the case
that, I would need to know what the nature of of first initiation; even if you haven’t completely
the problem is. So either the problem has to be qualified according to the checklist. But in the
presented here on a sheet of paper or you can case of the second, we have to be very strict. If
see me in a private interview. There are different one is second-initiated, he gets the reactions very
kinds of karma; but karma which is just appearing fast. For instance, if one commits suicide when he
is called primordial karma and usually the karma is just first-initiated, he becomes a ghost, but if he
which has already started having an effect on us is second initiated and commits suicide, then he
is very hard to stop. Still, by chanting the Hare becomes a brahma räkñasa. So we advise everyone
Kåñëa mahämantra, and by practicing bhakti yoga, not to commit suicide, especially if he is second-
the çästra says that sometimes, one can even be initiated. We don’t need any more brahma räkñasa

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like Rävaëa. say that even our paramparä is çikñä paramparä.
Question: I have heard of various chanting Guru Mahäräja: When Çréla Bhakti-siddhänta
procedures using the beads like which bead to hold Sarasvaté Öhäkura wrote the paramparä, there
onto when chanting the Pancha Tattva mantra, were unbroken initiation lines but he didn’t like
whether to start from the bigger bead and go on to the gurus in that line so especially put those people
smaller ones or vice versa. Could you please tell us who are very special in the paramparä, but after
the proper way to chant with the beads? two generations past Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu,
Guru Mahäräja: The chanting of the Païca- everyone in the list is dékñä disciples and after that
tattva mantra is just invoking the mercy of Lord there were also dékñä disciples up to Jagannätha
Caitanya and his associates. So you shouldn’t chant däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja. Çréla Bhakti-siddhänta’s
on any beads. When you start chanting the Hare idea was that Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé’s influence
Kåñëa mantra, you start from the big side. On that was much greater on Bhaktivinod Öhäkura than
side, there should be a string after the first eight Bhaktivinod Öhäkura’s dékñä guru. And similarly,
beads. Do you all have such a string? Show me your although Gaura Kishore das Babaji had a dékñä
beads. Hold the string up. Does anyone not have line, he thought that Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura
the string after the first eight beads? (devotees was a bigger influence on him and after that Gaura
hold up the beads) Some of you don’t have it. So Kiçora däsa Bäbäjé gave initiation to Bhakti-
you should tie a string after the eight beads on the siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. Similarly, Bhakti-
big side and you proceed until the small side bead siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura gave initiation to
right next to the center bead. Then you turn your Çréla Prabhupäda and Prabhupäda gave dékñä to his
bead around and chant the Païca Tattva mantra disciples. I don’t know how they say ours is a çikñä
‘çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita paramparä. Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura
gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda. Hare called it a bhagavad-paramparä, where most of
Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare the connections are dékñä connections. Somehow,
Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare and in one case, Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura put in as the
you go on, chanting one mantra per bead. çikñä disciple. This is because the dékñä guru of
Some people came to see me and they were Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura had some serious problem
chanting Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa [disagreement] with Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Kåñëa Kåñëa... Is that correct? No. So I heard Öhäkura; or, as Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
various types of chanting, Hare Räma Räma Öhäkura and Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura said, any
Räma Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. Sometimes Vaiñëava is qualified as a brahmin to worship the
it is good to have your chanting heard; or tape it deities, but Vipina-vihäré Gosvämé, the dékñä guru
and listen to it yourself. Many people chant the of Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, was a caste brahmin–
14 name mantra, Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare he only recognized caste brahmins. That’s why he
Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare doesn’t appear in our paramparä. I can give more
Hare, they leave out the Hare in the first and reasons, but time is short.
second pair of words. Question: If we practice yoga, can it enhance
Question: I have heard çikñä alone is enough, bhakti-yoga in Kåñëa consciousness?
dékñä is not necessary. To support this idea, they Guru Mahäräja: The bhakti-yoga system

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brings one closer to Çré Kåñëa and if we chant Then he gave me what you call a “rain check” in
our japa mentally, softly or loudly in the sitting America. When it rains during a football game,
postures of añöäìga-yoga, it can help one to sit for they postpone the game and give you a ticket to
longer time; but that has a very minimal use in come back to the next game. Like giving a rain
bhakti-yoga, especially in Kali-Yuga, when things check, Çréla Prabhupäda said, “Don’t worry about
are very disturbed. In the kåta-yuga/ satya yuga, it it. Wait till you are 25.”
may be useful; otherwise it is good for preaching, We have the option to decide whether we feel
and is a good way to keep muscles well-toned. better as a gåhasta or as a brahmacäré. So at the
But bhakti-yoga depends on your offering of pure age of 21, I was sent to India and I wasn’t thinking
service to Kåñëa.
about sannyäsa (not too much); it was a new thing.
So a little bit, we thought. Nine people had gotten
QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
sannyäsa in Los Angeles. So I was curious. What
January 15th 2015 was sannyäsa? And then Çréla Prabhupäda called
me into his room, talked to me, and then asked
ISKCON Chennai me, “Would you like to take sannyäsa? Probably,
Question: How can I advance in Kåñëa
if I had known the risks, I would have taken a
consciousness like a rocket?
rain check, but Çréla Prabhupäda asked me and it
Guru Mahäräja: We don’t want you to crash seemed like a good thing. I was saved because I was
on the way! During Diwali, we saw lots of rockets– in India– trying to get Indian Citizenship– at that
Zoooommm! Booooommm!… time. In 1970, the ladies were well-behaved; I think
Actually, the Bhagavad-gétä tells us that the in South India, they are still well-behaved. It was a
jïänés achieve Kåñëa after many, many births– number of years before I become an Indian citizen
bahünäà janmanäm ante [Bg. 7.19] – after many, in 1978, when many of you were not even born. In
many births, Lord Caitanya has opened the 1970, petrol was 60 paisa a liter! How much the
storehouse of love of Kåñëa to distribute it freely. price has increased! Rs.65! That’s expensive! I was
Actually, Kåñëa gives us bhukti and mukti easily. given sannyäsa on Rädhäñöamé day in 1970 and,
If you want anything material, take it. If you want after taking sannyäsa, I learnt about sannyäsa. We
liberation of merging into the jyoti, take it. But if had to start things in ISKCON, and this was one of
you want prema-bhakti, then WAIT A SECOND! things that Çréla Prabhupäda entrusted me with:
When I was in Montreal, the president’s wife start going everywhere to preach. And it has an
advised me to get married, reasoning that unless advantage: we can go and preach anywhere and
I was married, I couldn’t go back to Godhead. everywhere. Although I don’t have a wife, I have
During those days, I was just learning how to chant, many sons and daughters, nephews and nieces. A
how to do deity worship and Saìkértana. Now this big family – Väsudeva-kuöumbakam.
question of how to be the head of a whole family Question: Hare Kåñëa Mahäräja. May we know
had come up. That was a big responsibility for a if you have any specific instruction for IIT Madras
nineteen- year- old! devotees?
Therefore I approached Çréla Prabhupäda Guru Mahäräja: Well, IIT is one of the
with this question of whether to marry or not. prestigious institutes in India. It is compared

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with MIT in USA I used to go to. And this is the office, and he said the same things… “I don’t
advantage that we didn’t have in the west: if you believe this. This is all nonsense, da, da, da… But
take advantage of the nice association and try to I was in India. So I just stayed there. When he
advance in Bhakti-yoga by chanting Hare Kåñëa, finished talking, I told him that he was not correct
your juniors in university also take up Kåñëa and that we were doing seväs like feeding people,
consciousness. We can be in universities as long having festivals, etc I had a book with pictures,
as the students want us to be there. While you are which showed our ISKCON branches all over
there, you have to ensure that their seniors and the world. Then he said, “I was just testing you.
juniors also practicing Kåñëa consciousness. How much is it?” Then finally he became a life
When I was in Montreal, I used to go to the member. So we meet all kinds of people – some
hostels to preach and distribute books. In one people are big pundits who indulge in double talk
room I went to there was this guy who said, “This and some people test you with negative talks, and
is all rubbish. I don’t believe in any of these.” I was some people are innocent and they are looking for
just a new devotee and we were there in the hostel the real thing.
illegally. So I didn’t think I should get into a big You are given the mercy of Lord Caitanya and
argument with him. So I immediately thought that Lord Nétyänanda to give it out. And by doing that,
I should leave the place. I just turned around and you also get special mercy from Lord Kåñëa. So we
walked away, leaving him shocked. want you to be successful in your studies and we
Later on, when we started life membership also want you to bring many people to Kåñëa.
program in Kolkata, I went to a businessman’s [END]

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 We have listened to His Holiness Çukadeva there is a medium-aged deity. That was established
Mahäräja and His Holiness Bhanu Swami. Bhanu by Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja; only 5,000 years old.
Swami just explained that the Lord appeared as But our Nåsiàhadeva deity in Mäyäpur may just
different avatäras. There is a form of Näräyaëa be 30 years old. The deity of Lord Jagannätha
called Vaikuëöhanätha. He never descends as an has been installed recently, but the original deity
avatära. He resides in Vaikuëöha, the spiritual in Jagannätha Puré is there for thousands and
world. But the expansions from the Lord descend as thousands of years! But it doesn’t matter whether
avatäras like Mahä Viñëu avatära, Garbhodakaçäyé the deities are old, medium-aged, or new– all the
Viñëu avatära, Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu avatära. deities can reciprocate with you. This is the deity
And as Bhanu Swami has explained, the Lord of Kåñëa in Dvärakä, and He wants to go back to
may appear in any forms. But Räma and Kåñëa Våndävana. So He goes every year for nine days.
are special; They simultaneously reside in the That place is called Sundaräcala. And the Lord
spiritual world and descend as avatära. A part of normally resides at Néläcala. So in Orissa they
those avatäras is arcävatära. The deities are either sing, “néläcala-candra-amü-prabhu-jagannnätha
self-manifested or installed by präëa-pratiñöä. jaya jagannnätha swami jaya jagannatha”
They are ancient, medium-aged, or new. It is said “sundaräcala-candra-amü-prabhu-jagannnätha
that Lord Räma prayed to Ahobilam Nåsiàha jaya jagannnätha swami jaya jagannnätha.” So
deity before He went off to attack Rävanä. Kåñëa He goes from Néläcala to Sundaräcala. He goes
comes down once in the day of Brahma. But He from Dvärakä to Våndävana. These deities are
is present as arcävatära. In Vijayawada, there is a special. Each of you can do some personal service
hill called Maìgalagiri. That hill has the deity of to Kåñëa. You can pull the ratha to the destination.
Lord Nåsiàhadeva who eats half of the offering Who wants to pull the ratha? (Devotees raise hands
and spits back the other half. That deity has been and Guru Mahäräja says, “Haribol!!!”) I couldn’t
there for yugas and yugas. At the base of the hill, see everybody’s hands. (Devotees raise hands

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again and Guru Mahäräja says, “Haribol!!!”) I am your servant; I don’t want anything to
There are five kinds of liberations. Säyujya- come in the way of our relationship.” There
mukti or merging into light. And the Vaiñëavas are four other kinds of liberations. But they
never want this. Demons who are killed by Kåñëa include service to the Lord. Today you will get
get this. And jïänés also get it. This säyujya the chance to render some personal service to
mukti was offered by Lord Räma to Hanumän Lord Jagannätha, the Lord of all the universes.
but Hanumän said, “You are my master and And this can awaken your pure love. [END]

How many of you like the Ratha-yäträ? ratha. This same design is used in Chennai with a
(Haribol!!!) I didn’t hear you! (Haribol!!!) few improvements. That means in Chennai, in any
Since Lord Jagannätha is an avatar of Kåñëa, street, they can take the ratha, even if it has low-
you will be pulling Him, dancing with Him, cooking line cables. For how many years has the Chennai
for Him, serving Him– it’s all transcendental sevä. Ratha-yäträ been going on? 32 years!!! So this is a
In the end, Their Lordships Jagannätha, Baladeva very historical Ratha-yäträ. And when the deities
and Subhadrä, were also dancing. arrive, they offer Them 1008 preparations. We
Çréla Prabhupäda brought Jagannätha deity all should have a system, where they (public) can take
over the world. In 1967, they had their first Ratha- a small cup and fill it up. I heard that you already
yäträ. But He (Lord Jagannätha) was in the back have that system.
of the truck. In 1968 His Grace Jayänanda Prabhu, CONVERSATION:
a mechanical engineer designed a telescopic Guru Mahäräja: How much does it cost?

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A devotee: Each sponsor or servitor get a token Caitanya’s message around the world, you will be
like this. This time there is no cost. spiritually benefited.” And Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
Guru Mahäräja: So if you do some service for Sarasvaté Öhäkura said, “Those who help you will
Lord Jagannätha you get a coupon. How many also get benefited.” Çréla Prabhupäda said that
want to serve Lord Jagannätha? (Haribol!!!) the golden-age will remain at its peak for the next
10,000 years. Nämmälvär too had such a vision.
LECTURE CONTINUES:
So, if you would like to be one of Lord Viñëu’s
Of course, there will be a hot meal for
or Lord Kåñëa’s associates, then you should chant
everyone. Çréla Prabhupäda also introduced the
Hare Kåñëa and try spreading this movement
“grand feast” in Ratha-yäträ and other festivals.
around. We heard that many want to make bhakti-
This festival is observed in over 100 cities all over
våkña groups. All these are ways to increase the
the world.
number of devotees. Someone may be very rich,
There is good karma and bad karma. But but they may get some serious illness. There is no
serving Kåñëa is beyond karma. Even if one guarantee that just by having money, you will be
follows the karma-käëòé varëäçrama perfectly, well-placed.
they can go to svarga. But to get to the spiritual
And in Kali-Yuga, even if one thinks of doing
world, one has to develop love for Kåñëa or His
something good, then he gets the good reaction
avatäras or His expansions. Doing a service for
for it. And if one thinks of doing something bad,
Kåñëa is sukåti; that’s an eternal thing, an eternal
then he won’t get any reaction for it. But in other
action. Normally, one doesn’t get service to Kåñëa
yugas, even if one thinks of doing something sinful,
so easily. But, in the Brahma-vaivarta Puräëa,
one gets the reaction. So, we hope that all of you
Kåñëa predicts about sending a devotee who would
chant the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, which Çréla
spread the Hare Kåñëa chanting all over the world.
Prabhupäda brought to the west, and which Lord
That devotee is His Divine Grace Abhaya-
Caitanya, with mercy, personally came to Chennai
caraëäravinda Bhaktivedanta
Çrérangam, and Tirupati (and many other places)
Swami Prabhupäda.
to give.
Çréla Prabhupäda never
I am told that you haven’t had prasädam yet, so
claimed to be an avatära. He
please take prasädam and chant Hare Kåñëa and
said he was a devotee. His
be happy! (Haribol!!!).
guru said, “If you
spread Lord Hare Kåñëa
Hare Kåñëa
Kåñëa Kåñëa
Hare Hare
Hare Räma
Hare Räma
Räma Räma
Hare Hare
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 In these initiation ceremonies, we found that one in San Francisco, one in New York, and one in
Çréla Prabhupäda would speak on many things and Montreal. On the day of Rath-yäträ, I shaved up.
then he would speak something about initiation. I thought, “If I want to know what bhakti-yoga is,
So I think you have heard a lot about initiation then I have to practice it fully.”
from His Holiness Bhanu Swami Mahäräja After the Rath-yäträ, I went to Montreal.
and others. Initiation connects you with guru Çréla Prabhupäda came to the temple and gave a
paramparä. Among the various leaders (political, Bhagavad-gétä lecture. Then he asked, “Who is
social, or religious), it is hard to find an honest this?” Garga Muni also had been coming from
person in India today. I was looking for an honest San Francisco and he said “This is Bhakta Jay.”
spiritual master in America, but everyone I met And Prabhupäda said, “Bring him over for lunch.”
was a cheat. Then Kåñëa sent me to his devotees So I went and had lunch with Çréla Prabhupäda
and Jayänanda Prabhu engaged me in building (Haribol!). I was seated between Garga Muni
the first ratha for Ratha-yäträ, which we observed and Brahmänanda and ate a lot of prasädam. At
yesterday. Jayänanda Prabhu first saw if I could that age, I was very thin, so I couldn’t eat and
hammer or hold the nails, and I passed the test keep up with them. Çréla Prabhupäda kept saying,
(claps). I held the nail (Laugh) the secret of holding “Eat more! Eat more! I remember some of the
the nails is to let go, otherwise it will smash your preparations. There was rice, kadhi sauce and
finger. Then he saw whether I could hammer the cauliflower pakoräs. I don’t remember the other
nail. I learnt it from my uncle, so I got engaged in things.
building the first ratha in the world. And during Later, Çréla Prabhupäda asked me, “What are
the whole time, Jayänanda Prabhu was glorifying your plans?” I said, “I was thinking about going to
Çréla Prabhupäda. So I was very eager to see India.” He said, “I will send you to India, but first
Çréla Prabhupäda. I thought, I would go to India, I will train you up.” So about two years later in
because in the west, not all the gurus are honest. I 1970, I was sent to India. Somehow, if we desire to
thought they must be honest in India (laugh). Then reach Kåñëa, Kåñëa sends us to his devotees.
I went to Çréla Prabhupäda. At that time He was All of you are also representing Çréla
in Montreal. There were three ISKCON temples: Prabhupäda and Kåñëa, and Kåñëa will send you

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people to be educated in Kåñëa consciousness. And greatly indebted to Çréla Prabhupäda we are!
if you fail and they leave, you will feel bad, “Kåñëa Çréla Prabhupäda wanted the guru paramparä
sent me someone, but I failed to give them Kåñëa’s system to be continued. He said that his disciples
mercy.” There are two things that you cannot do would initiate his grand disciples and so on. So
in the spiritual world: 1) You cannot kill demons taking initiation means you take vows, you try to
because there are no demons, and 2) You can’t follow these vows very strictly. If you are not able
preach to the conditioned souls because there are to follow, the only präyaçcitta is to follow (laugh).
no conditioned souls there. So you are doing one The aspiring and sheltered devotees are not taking
of the rarest services. Kåñëa comes down as Lord vows, but they are getting the guru’s mercy and, if
Caitanya just to do this. He comes down to deliver they want, in the future, they can take initiation.
the conditioned souls. Kåñëa and Balaräma kill But they are testing themselves. So please give
demons, but Lord Caitanya and Lord Nétyänanda them mercy. Who here wants mercy? Don’t worry.
didn’t use violence or weapons. They used love. By giving mercy, you will get mercy. So connecting
Even when Lord Nétyänanda was beaten, he gave with guru paramparä is spiritual connection. It is
love in exchange. On the way to the West, Çréla a heart-to-heart connection, and it connects you
Prabhupäda had heart attacks and, when he was to Çréla Prabhupäda and all the predecessor gurus
in America, his things were stolen. Some crazy and äcäryas. The Padma Puräna says that one
people even beat him up. But still he gave out love should receive the mantra from one of the four
of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nétyänanda! How Vaiñëava-sampradäya; that otherwise your mantra
will be niñphalä. And the dékñä
guru is connecting you with the
paramparä and the dékñä guru is also
a çikñä guru. But one can have other
çikñä gurus in the same paramparä.
Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja, who wrote the
Caitanya caritämåta, had one dékñä
guru who was authorized by the
çästra, and he had six çikñä gurus.
His dékñä guru was Lord Nétyänanda
and his six çikñä gurus were the six
goswämés. So he was well-protected.
In this way, the process of çikñä
and dékñä go on, while one renders
service at the temple. We should
respect the temple president and
the temple commander – it’s their
responsibility to give out service to
all the devotees.
We are taking off to the spiritual
world!!! [END]

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 I was informed a little bit about the Bhakti- be 54, which is four more than 50. So 2016 + 4 is
våkña group’s 2020 plan which would give maximum 2020. So it is a transcendental number. This idea
shelter and enthusiasm to all its members. So, by has been nicknamed “4G”, the most advanced
the year 2020, which is about 5 years from today, telecommunication system in India. I was thinking
their goal is to create 10,000 bhakti-våkña groups, about 4G. And what those 4G’s are. “Give, Give,
and reach out to about 1 lakh people of Bengaluru. Give, Gauräìga!” But we are in the age of Kali,
I have been thinking about this. I was very grateful and it is very easy for people to slide back into
to Vijaya Veëu Gopäla däsa and Prema Padminé their bad habits or to become egoistic or proud,
Devé Däsé to come up with this idea and to Varada especially if they are successful. So it is important
Kåñëa däsa and all his team members for giving that all our members imbibe this spirit of giving
it shape and implementing it. There may be a and give out the väëé of Lord Caitanya, Gauräìga!
nice architect, but we need someone to build the And side by side, with the wonderful philosophy,
building according to the architecture. Without the old culture of Vaiñëava sevä and devotee äcär,
an engineer, no one will know, how good the the TLC (Tender Loving Care) should be given
architect was. So, I was thinking, “Well, 2016 is our to all the people. If they see that the devotees
50th anniversary, and the media and politicians like themselves are not dealing with one another in
things like silver jubilee, golden jubilee, centennial, the same nurturing way, their mind will put before
etc. But for us, 108 is the absolute truth in numbers. them some road blocks. In the beginning, people
So, half of the absolute truth in numbers would tend to be fault-finding.

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 I sent Kaunteya däsa to one Asian country, has talked to me.” 40 days!!! So, somehow, our big
which was doing self-Church. So he wanted to temples don’t take the time to get to know even
find out what they were doing. He said that in the people who come. So we need to teach everybody
assembly hall during one of their programs, there how to treat each other and how to receive a new
were hundreds of people, but someone spotted guest. We should work on all the details. But you
him and said, “He is new!” And they all said, “Oh! can all do that and tell me your decisions. I am
Welcome to our family.” And, after having a short very inspired, and I wanted to see your “4G”
talk with Kaunteya, the man who spotted him first work. And I give you all my best wishes and all my
asked, “Do you also want to be a member of our sincere regards. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!
family?” And Kaunteya said, “Okay!” The self- Çréla Prabhupäda has given me an order to
Church man said, “Come with me.” Then they expand the Kåñëa consciousness propagation
went into a room; and he had Kaunteya sign up. unlimitedly; that always was an unlimited
“And now you are a member of our family. How problem. But I can say that your 2020 goals would
much do you want to give?” It did not even take be certainly pleasing to Çréla Prabhupäda, and to
five minutes. In less than five minutes, they had all the previous acaryas. Moreover, we know that
him signed in and enrolled. We don’t want their Lord Kåñëa predicted that the Golden-age will last
money. We want their eternal life; we want them for 10,000 years. He said, “There will be a devotee
to be happy. They can give whatever is within their after 5,000 years. And Çréla Prabhupäda came and
capacity. But what is important is that everybody established Kåñëa consciousness all over the world
feels welcomed and important. I was giving a and he said, “I have built the structure. Now you
seminar in Los Angeles. There were about 50 have to fill it in.” And he often said, “Even if you
people attending my seminar. We were doing can get 1% of people to be Kåñëa conscious, then
some brain-storming, and one guy stood up and this will affect the entire society.” So, I do hope
was leaving. Then I said, “Sir, please take some that the 4G mission is successful and you are an
prasadam on your way out.” He turned back and example – a shining example to inspire the rest
said, “You know, I live in San Diego. I go to the of the world. All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda! All
San Diego temple, and I have been assigned some glories to our previous äcäryas! All glories to Lord
work here. So, I’ve been coming to this temple for Caitanya and the Païca -tattva!
the last 40 days. And you are the first person who [END]

“If one dedicates his life to preaching Kåñëa consciousness, for

distributing Çréla Prabhupäda’s books, for establishing the message of
Chaitanya Mahäprabhu in the world, then by broadcasting that message,
just like loud chanting, by loud broadcasting, one is getting purified of the
offences; that means that one’s chanting, one’s devotional service, will get
special shelter by Lord Çré Kåñëa. It will be more effective. So we should
take these very secret and wonderful lessons to heart.”
–Jayapatäkä Swami (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.8.9 September 12th, 1981 - Miami, Florida, USA)

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 One day, Lord Caitanya stopped the kértana Again devotees thought, “What did I do?” as
and said, “Today I am not feeling ecstatic. I don’t devotees naturally consider themselves the culprit.
feel any ecstasy! WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? They don’t find fault with others; they rather
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?” blame themselves first. So each devotee thought,
Everybody was thinking, “I must have “Is something wrong with me?”
committed some aparädha. Lord Gauräìga is not Then again Lord Caitanya said, “There must
feeling ecstatic today.” be someone here.”

Lord Gauräìga then said, “Maybe somebody After all, Lord Caitanya is antaryämé. He is
Kåñëa. He is in everyone’s heart. So He knows who
who is not supposed to be here is watching!”
is present or not. So, they saw in the corner of the
So Çréväsa looked everywhere in the house but
house, somehow, the mother-in- law of Çréväsa was
couldn’t find anyone. No one seemed to be there,
hiding under a basket and watching. She wanted
and so they resumed the kértana: Hare Kåñëa to see Lord Caitanya dance. Çréväsa then pulled
Hare Kåñëa… her by the hair and threw her out! Now, Bengalis
But Lord Caitanya again said, “I don’t feel any are very respectful toward their mothers-in-law!
ecstasy at all. Who is responsible? Why am I not And they don’t this to their mothers-in-law! But
feeling any ecstasy, any bliss today?” Çréväsa did it.

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 Then Lord Caitanya resumed chanting Hare “You have offended a pure devotee. You don’t
Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa… have the slightest idea of the Bhägavatam and
Stopping in the middle, Lord Caitanya asked you are giving a Bhägavatam class! You are very
Çréväsa, “Who was that?” offensive! “Lord Caitanya said angrily.
Çréväsa said, “I don’t know!” Lord Caitanya scolded Devänanda Paëòita
Again Lord Caitanya asked, “Who was that?” further and Devänanda Paëòita was very much
offended by it and so he thought, “Who is this
Çréväsa said, “I don’t know!”
person who has insulted me? So the Mäyävädé
“Wasn’t that your mother-in-law?” Lord Paëòita was quite upset.
Caitanya now asked.
Devänanda Paëòita was related to Vakreçvara
“Yes,” Çréväsa said (Guru Mahäräja imitates Paëòita in some way. So Vakreçvara Paëòita
a very straight-faced meek Çréväsa answering came to him and said, “Listen, Lord Caitanya is
Mahäprabhu, and laughs) actually Kåñëa Himself, but has come disguised
“Why did you treat your mother-in-law so as Nimäi Paëòita. You should understand that it
badly?” was predicted that the Supreme Lord would come
“My Lord! Anyone who interferes with Your down in a devotee form in Kali-Yuga and give love
ecstasy will not be tolerated! I am simply made of Kåñëa freely to everyone!”
for Your service. So I don’t recognize people who Then Devänanda Paëòita referred to the çästra
interfere with your ecstasy– I don’t know them!” and found out who Lord Caitanya actually was.
Lord Caitanya said, “Çréväsa, you are too Having found out who Lord Gauräìga actually
much!” (Guru Mahäräja laughs) was, Devänanda Paëòita came to Lord Caitanya,
In this way, Çréväsa was totally dedicated to and offered his obeisances. Lord Gauräìga told
Lord Caitanya. him, “You did not offend Me. You offended
Çréväsa. So please offer your obeisances to
Çréväsa went to the Bhägavatam class given by
Çréväsa. So Devänanda Paëòita went to Çréväsa
Devänanda Paëòita.
and offered his obeisances to him and begged for
In those days, Devänanda Paëòita had his class
his forgiveness. Çréväsa forgave him. We read in
in Koladvépa on the other side of the river. As
the Bhägavatam that by a little bhakti, Çréväsa is
Çréväsa heard Kåñëa Lila, he began to feel ecstatic
so great.
and started crying in separation.
One time Lord Caitanya tested Çréväsa. He
And as Devänanda Paëòita was a Mäyävädé,
said, “Çréväsa, why do you let this mendicant
he became annoyed and said, “Who is this, causing
Nétyänanda enter your house? You don’t know
disturbance? Throw him out!”
what sort of family He hails from, and what He
Devänanda Paëòita could not appreciate the does. He is like an avadhüta – sometimes He
devotional feelings of separation. acts like a child, and sometimes He swims in the
Anyway, they picked up Çréväsa and threw him Ganges! And you don’t know much about this
out and he didn’t know what was happening when person. I think you should drive Him out of your
he got thrown out! But Lord Caitanya picked house for the sake of your family. Please don’t
Çréväsa up and chastised Devänanda Paëòita. keep this Nétyänanda in your house!”

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 Çréväsa then said, “O Lord, why? Why are begging, you will never be poor– you will always
you testing me? I know that Nétyänanda is non- have plenty of everything in your house; even the
different from You! And Nétyänanda is very dear dogs and cats, even the insects in your house, will
to You. Even a devotee with a little devotion is have pure devotion!”
pleasing to You; what to speak of Lord Nétyänanda We are like the dog in Çréväsa’s house. Çréväsa
who is Your counterpart! Therefore, even if I see is so dear to Lord Caitanya. Therefore we worship
Nétyänanda wandering or acting strangely I know him on the altar as the representative of all the
that He is transcendental. So I cannot ask Him to devotees– çré-kåñëa-caitanya
leave. I have all respect for Nétyänanda. prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara
And Lord Caitanya then said, “Yes, I was çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda! Çréväsädi means
testing you and you have passed the test! And “all the other devotees like Çréväsa,” or “following
Çréväsa, you are so dear to me that even if Lakñmé Çréväsa.”
devé Herself becomes poor and has to go out (to be continued)

Addressing Bhakti-vrksa Leaders

January 14th 2015 - ISKCON Chennai, Tamil Nadu
We see that all the devotees are eager to Usually, people get the blessings from Kåñëa
participate. Through the Bhakti-våkña, the and they forget the Lord. They think, “Now I
gåhastas and brahmacärés could expand their don’t need to worship.” But devotees continue to
numbers greatly. The Bhakti-våkña program is increase their devotional service.
meant to engage the gåhastas especially, but we Jagannätha Miçra and Çacémätä had eight girls.
see that most human beings are simply interested Each girl died soon after birth. So Jagannätha Miçra
in sense gratification; they are not aware of a was frustrated. He did a special Viñëu-püjä and
higher pleasure. prayed for a son. Then He and his wife were blessed
By Çréla Prabhupäda’s preaching of Bhakti- by Viçvarüpa and later by Lord Caitanya. When
yoga, gåhe thäko, vane thäko, sadä ‘hari’ bole’ they got the blessings, their devotional service
òäko, you can constantly chant “Hari! Hari!” increased. They knew that these blessings were
Whether you are a householder; a sannyäsé or bestowed on them by Kåñëa. TIK, TIK! Confirmed!
a brahmacäré. All of you can engage in Kåñëa Therefore our devotional service should increase,
consciousness. How fortunate the devotees who whether we get the Lord’s blessings or not. Kåñëa
chant Hare Kåñëa are! Kåñëa’s name and Kåñëa says that he is most pleased by someone who
are non-different. Kåñëa’s name is not material. teaches the Bhagavad-gétä lessons. So we are very
One can directly associate with Kåñëa through His glad and thankful to Vijaya Veëu Gopäla and
holy names. Prema-padminé and the various devotees (who
Most people desire material benefit but if are serving as deputies) and to all the Bhakti-
they worship Kåñëa and chant His names, they våkña leaders. The secret here is to GIVE, GIVE,
automatically get the special mercy of Kåñëa. GIVE! GAURÄÌGA! 4G Bhakti-våkña! [END]

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 It is a day in Mäyäpur. Çréla Prabhupäda is the container touch one’s mouth is the solution.
chanting. And when he is offered some prasädam, Then one doesn’t have to wash his hand so often.
he accepts and eats it without letting his fingers Another time in Mäyäpur. Çréla Prabhupäda
touch his mouth. According to him, even if one has just arrived in Mäyäpur. He comes into his
touches his lips while eating, the hand becomes room and sits back in his seat with his legs on the
contaminated. desk, relaxing. He lifts his cup of water and, holding
Brahmänanda Swami is with us, sitting down. it high in the air, he drinks the water without
Devotees offer him some prasädam and he also touching the cup to his mouth and say “Aaahh…
accepts it but lets his fingers touch the inside of Mäyäpur water!” Then he says, “Mäyäpur is the
his mouth as he eats. Then Prabhupäda says, “No. spiritual kingdom– living or dying in Mäyäpur is
Now you are contaminated. Go and wash your the same thing. By living in Mäyäpur you are living
hands. He goes out and washes his hands and in the spiritual world. And if you die in Mäyäpur,
comes back… Again, there is another treat, and you go back to the spiritual world.
yet again Brahmänanda Swami touches the mouth Another time in Mäyäpur. Prabhupäda’s
with his hand. Then again Çréla Prabhupäda says, quarters is barely usable. His bathroom is almost
“Go back and wash your hands.” ready. The plastering isn’t 100% finished. Some
In this fashion, Brahmänanda Swami finally features are more or less usable. All of a sudden,
manages to pop the prasädam into his mouth 9 O’clock at night, I hear Prabhupäda yelling out,
without touching it with his hand. Prabhupäda “Jayapatäka…Jayapatäkä….Jayapatäka…!” Then
insists, “if you touch [the mouth with your hand], I run up to the bathroom. There, Prabhupäda is
you have to wash it!” inside the bathroom (a small four-feet- by-five-feet
Cleanliness is a basic principle of püjä. If one cubicle) and, stuck in the crack of the bathroom
touches the mouth with his hand, he has to door, is a three feet long viper, which is lethally
wash his hand. And If one drinks anything poisonous! And the snake isn’t quiet. It is striking
with the container touching out at Prabhupäda and falling short of biting him
his mouth, he has to wash his by just 6 inches! Now I quickly yank the door hard
hand–every time. So trouble- and crash it. Then I open the door just a little, just
some! Drinking without letting enough for Prabhupäda to come out. The crushed

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viper has lost some of its springy zeal to strike. Another time in Mäyäpur. Prabhupäda is
Prabhupäda then comes out of the bathroom. taking his morning walk, touring. Along the way
Then I open the door finish the snake off. he is inspecting the bathrooms. All of a sudden,
Another time in Mäyäpur. Prabhupäda is he decides to go to the bathroom that is not clean.
sitting in his room. Some devotees are chanting Everyone who knows that the bathroom is dirty
thinks, “Here comes the Next One! He goes into
japa and walking back and forth outside the
the next one – the same thing. He turns around and
room. He rings the bell, calls him and asks, “What
says, “You call yourself a brähmaëa? Wherever a
mantra are you chanting? What is this hare nicks
brähmaëa lives must be clean. How can you allow
nicks Räma Räma?”
this to happen? He emphasizes the fact that a
Prabhupäda generally doesn’t chastise his brähmaëa has to be clean– no excuse. According
devotees in western temples very much. When he to Prabhupäda, a brähmaëa is actually really
is in India, a few days after his arrival in Mäyäpur, responsible for seeing to it that a high standard of
he is almost like a temple president. He comes in, cleanliness is adhered to. They couldn’t live in a
and if he doesn’t like something, he chastises. So messy or dirty place. That is Prabhupäda’s point.
most of the other leaders know that this is a special Prabhupäda really insists on this cleanliness. He is
rasa between Prabhupäda and us, but sometimes teaching cleanliness. When he goes to the kitchen
when we get chastised some leaders would think it and looks at it, and demands the highest standard
was funny or something. of cleanliness. (meditation to be continued)

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 May 24th 1997, Saturday The problem is, the drive is seven hours since
Mäyäpur midway we have to cross the Padmä river which is
very wide. It takes three hours in a ferry boat to get
Travelling and preaching isn’t always what one
across. During the boat ride I might answer email
expects. Take today, for example.
using laptop batteries as long as they last. Let’s
I left Mäyäpur at 9am after morning class to
see what happens. Due to this problem, I won’t
500 visiting students and hundreds of devotees. I
be able to give morning class here it seems, I will
had to take breakfast in a moving vehicle trying
leave very early and will arrive very late in North
to reach the airport in time for a flight to Dhaka,
Bangladesh. By Lord Gauräìga’s mercy things
Bangladesh. I took lunch prasädam at 7pm in may work out, let’s see. With me is Jaganniväsa
Dhaka due to various delays along the way. Däsa from Colombia and local devotees.
Nothing to eat in between. These are things we
While crossing the Padmä river we will
live with. It is part of preaching travelling, from
remember the blessing of Lord Caitanya
country to country.
Mahäprabhu that offenders of Vaishnavas who
And there’s more I would like to share with bath in this river will get all kinds of bad reactions,
you in this travelling preacher’s diary. but those who are not offenders and aspire to
Dhaka pure devotion to Lord Kåñëa, will get love of
Here in the Dhaka temple, there are beautiful Godhead! Please forgive me for any offenses so
Rädhä-Govinda and Gauräìga Deities on the that by bathing in the Padmä river I can get love
main altar. Jagannätha Deities on the left altar for Godhead!!! In this river, Narottama däsa
and Pancha-Tattva Deities on the right altar. Öhäkura got love for Godhead. Lord Caitanya
bathed here as well. Whatever Lord Kåñëa does
After a reception, we had a class on Bhagavad-
has some higher design and something good can
gétä with over 150 devotees. It had just rained and
come even from an apparently negative situation
things had cooled down quite a bit.
by the Lord’s mercy.
I was supposed to fly to North Bengal
I hope that this finds you in good health and
tomorrow, but somehow my secretaries and the
blissful in Kåñëa Consciousness.
local devotees delayed the bookings and I am 17th
on the waiting list for a flight with only 40 seats. So
it seems totally hopeless. We are renting a micro- Your ever well-wisher,
bus and will be driving. Jayapatäkä Swami

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 May 25th 1997, Sunday, When I first came to India, I had a different ethic of
Padmä River, Rangpur punctuality and efficiency. Somewhere along the
My dear ones, stay in India, that got broken and I have become
more flexible. It is either bend or, like a stiff tree,
Please accept my best wishes and blessings.
get broken by the strong stormy winds.
All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!
Çréla Prabhupäda says that in Kåñëa
As predicted, here I am on the Padmä River in
Bangladesh. We’ve been on this ferry for a couple consciousness, we need to emulate the coconut
of hours and there’s still one more hour to go. I or palm trees which can bend under the stormy
ran through one computer battery and am on the weather, but after the wind stops, they bounce back
second. I have a third, so I should be able to write upright. Stiff big trees often get blown over. So
through most of the trip. please tolerate all kinds of difficulties and remain
fixed in your Kåñëa consciousness, no matter what
We were supposed to leave at 6:00am, but the
bus didn’t show up on time. Then at 8:00am we kinds of tests come. Always try to serve Guru &
realized it had failed us. Then finally at 10:00am Gauräìga under all circumstances.
the bus came. So we began our journey through the After we get off the ferry, we have some more
hottest part of the day. Preaching in this part of the distance to drive. Our destination is Taraganj
world means taking the unexpected as expected. Nämahaööa where some hundreds of devotees are

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waiting and a festival is planned. More later when I am asked if I want to start the interviews for the
we get there – if I get time to write! initiation yajïa right away. I tell them “First thing in
Rangpur, Bangladesh the morning. Now some prasädam and take rest.”
We haven’t reached yet, trying to send this off. They had cooked a feast for me. Cheese sabji,
Last phone before we reach the village destination, fries, the works. I can’t eat any of it. Against my
it was supposed to be a 6-7 hour journey but now dietary restrictions. What I could finally accept
has gone up to 9 hours and still 30 minutes to go. were two simple vegetable, rice, däl, cucumber
Hare Kåñëa! Chanted a lot of rounds today!! pieces, litchi fruits, mango, some puffed rice & gur
Spent one hour trying to get connected to balls and some hot milk. The sästra states that what
Internet from here, calling long distance to we will get to eat is already written beforehand. We
Dhaka. Lines really bad. Finally got connected cannot expect or desire more than what is decided
and received mail from Johannesburg, Mäyäpur for us. I am satisfied to get a little prasädam after
and a few other places. Couldn’t send any mail. all day travelling.
Got cut off. Can’t wait here any longer. Must go I am in a brick house, may be the only one in
on to the final destination. Will send this message the village, two rooms with a FAN! This village has
off later whenever possible. electricity. The householder has moved out and
Taraganj, Bangladesh given his own room for me to stay in. This is Vedic
We turned off the paved road and go onto and Vaishnava service attitude and hospitality!
the dirt road. The driver is apprehensive. Is this To receive a devotee of the Lord, they offer their
the only road? How long is it? We pacify him, it own room and facility! The room has an informal
isn’t long now. We go a few hundred meters in the altar with pictures of Bombay’s Räsa-Vihäri
village and see hundreds of devotees with turbans, Deities, Rädhä -Mädhava, Çréla Prabhupäda and
mådaìga, kartälas – chanting Jaya Gurudeva! Jaya my picture.
Çré Kåñëa Caitanya… Hare Kåñëa… Jaya Çréla
The local devotees tell me that interviews and
Prabhupäda!!!
examinations for initiation are ready and ask me
A 10-meter brick temple with a tin roof kértan if I want to complete the interviews and do the
hall in front of it is the main attraction of this village. ceremony that night. I tell them now the program
It is the ISKCON Nämahaööa Mandir. Twelve is rest and after maìgala-ärätrika we will begin
devotees (all brahmacärés except one house-holder
the other things.
family next door) serve here fulltime, preaching
I hope that this finds you in good health and
in Nämahaööas in several districts. It is dark. Can’t
blissful in Kåñëa consciousness.
see much now. Our van pulls up surrounded by
dozens of devotees. Everyone is trying to touch Your well-wisher always,
my feet. We go off to an aspiring disciple’s house. Jayapatäkä Swami

“Whether one is in a family or in the temple; or whether one is single or married, the real
need is transformation of one’s consciousness to divine consciousness, Kåñëa consciousness–
serving Kåñëa, instead of serving dead matter.”
–Jayapatäkä Swami (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 5.1.17 July 26th, 1981 - Bangalore, India.)

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 verses by His Holiness Jayapatäkä Swämé were
published in serial form in the (now defunct)
periodical, ISKCON World Review. From that
time, many devotees, including the publishers of
this present volume, have desired that Vaiñëava
Ke?, together with its translation and commentary,
be published in the form of a complete book
so that its lessons could be repeatedly studied
and reflected upon. One GBC member recently
remarked that its publication was ‘long overdue. ’
Therefore, it is the humble desire of the publisher
to present this book for the pleasure of our
predecessor äcäryas. It is especially dedicated
to our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C.
Bhaktivedänta Swämé Prabhupäda, the Founder-
Äcärya of the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness who frequently quoted from the
Preface verses of Vaiñëava Ke? in his lectures and books,
and to His Divine Grace Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
To control the mind is certainly the crux of all Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda, the author, as well
as the Vaiñëavas all over the world.
yoga systems, including the system of bhakti-yoga
or Kåñëa consciousness, which is the only practical This book is most relevant for those who are
yoga system in the present age. Indeed the trying to advance in Kåñëa consciousness at the
Bhagavad-gétä states that one who has controlled present moment. We must frankly admit that our
the mind has already reached the Supersoul, and own ‘wicked minds’ may have from time to time
proposed just the kind of deviations mentioned
that the controlled and uncontrolled mind are,
in Vaiñëava Ke? Many devotees have left full-time
respectively, the best friend and the worst enemy
preaching and service in the Kåñëa consciousness
of the conditioned soul. Vaiñëava Ke? is a Bengali
movement for precisely the types of reasons and
poem, written by His Divine Grace Çré Çrémad
rationalizations offered by the mind which are
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. This poem
described in this book. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
contains revelations and practical guidance to aid
Sarasvaté Öhäkura has very kindly and plainly
the aspiring devotee in dealing with the types of
described all these subtle matters in great detail.
nonsense deviations which may continue to be
He has also given pragmatic advice as to how
proposed by the mind to distract a devotee until the aspiring devotee may remain absorbed in the
he reaches the level of pure devotional service. saìkértana movement of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
The devotees and friends of ISKCON became without becoming yet another casualty to the
aware of the value of these practical instructions in attacks of the ‘wicked mind’ which many mistake
Vaiñëava Ke? (What Kind of Devotee Are You?) to be their actual self, as opposed to what is instead
when translations and commentaries on ten of its their real nature; the eternal spirit soul.

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 It may also be noted that in presenting his Çréla Bhakti-siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura
strong challenge to the mind, “duñöa mana!
tumi kisera vaiñëava?”, which Çréla Prabhupäda
has translated as “My Dear Mind, what kind
of devotee are you?”, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta
Sarasvaté Öhäkura refers to a Vaiñëava or devotee
according to his definition as one ‘who is situated
in his constitutional position’, i.e. in unalloyed
devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Lord Kåñëa. His intention is that we
may not allow our minds to imagine that we are
on a very elevated platform in devotional service
while at the same time performing activities which
are seriously detrimental to our own spiritual
advancement and the advancement of the united
preaching mission of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
His Holiness Jayapatäkä Swämé Mahäräja has
nicely translated the text and given an illuminating
commentary based on his realizations and
practical experience as a dedicated preacher in
the Kåñëa Consciousness movement all over the
world for the past forty years. The commentary is
supported with extensive quotes from the books
of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedänta Swämé
Prabhupäda. His Holiness Jayapatäkä Swämé has
kindly allowed the publisher to produce this book
in its present form.
The publisher prays that this book may be of
practical benefit to devotees all over the world,
as in all cases of whatever individual weakness or
collective disunity there may be, the lone accused
is none other than our own “rascal mind.”
Jakarta, 8th February 1988
Appearance Day of
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura

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