Thank you for all coming here. So, maybe I can come closer. Okay. Yeah. Om namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
Okay. So, uh, we would like to start our program by asking you all some question or getting your feedback about uh what are the fundamental instructions of Srila Prabhupada to all of us? Or what do you think that the fundamental instructions or the main instructions or every instruction is valuable. But uh for all of us, Srila Prabhupada, what what instructions did Srila Prabhupada give to us? Which you think is, you know, very valuable or you can take everyone's answer.
Q: Four regulative principles and chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra.
A: So, yeah. Four regulative principles, chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra.
Q: Everybody should read my books.
A: Everybody should read Prabhupada's books. Okay. Okay. Um anything else? There are a lot of instructions. You can say whatever you feel like. Uh Is very relevant or
Q: Follow the guru Maharaj.
A: Follow guru's instructions. Okay. Yes. Very important. More? Mm. Anything you want to add? You want to add? Okay. Uh so yes, as as it is said that um following the four regulative principles, chanting minimum 16 rounds, and uh the most important what I also agree with was the books. Reading Prabhupada books. So, which actually I felt that in our congregation we are somehow missing that point. Uh because everyone is so busy and I hope Jashini can also come. But uh but uh so this was my today's also topic about uh reading Srila Prabhupada books. And also coincidentally we also got many books today donated by Prabhus. So, this also that we wanted to emphasize so that we can read more books. So, okay. Um, so I will start with one verse around that and which is very famous and also we will go through many verses in today's class and which kind of emphasizes on that and also about we will yeah. Uh about Srila Prabhupada and uh about around the preaching and the books. So this was the today's theme for the class. So Bhagavad-gita 4.9 actually uh which kind of builds up a foundation around this.
Janma karma ca me divyam
Evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
Naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Someone wants to repeat?
Q:
Janma karma ca me divyam
A:
Janma karma ca me divyam
Q:
Evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
A:
Evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
Q:
Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
A:
Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
Q:
Naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
A:
Naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Q: What's the verse?
A: 4.9. Okay. The translation: One who knows the transcendental nature of my appearance and activities does not upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world but attains my eternal abode, O Arjuna.
Oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā Cakṣur unmīlitaḿ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Śrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaḿ sthāpitaḿ yena bhūtale svayaḿ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaḿ dadāti sva-padāntikam
Pañca-tattva-tmakaṁ kṛṣṇaḿ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam bhaktāvatāraḿ bhaktākhyaḿ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam
Vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāḿś ca śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam sādvaitaṁ sāvadūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāḿś ca.
He kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate gopeśa gopikā-kāntā rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te.
Tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṇamāmi hari-priye.
Vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca patitānāḿ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ.
Jaya Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri Advaita Gadadhara Sri Vasadi Gaura Bhakta Vrnda. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. So, uh so the famous principle uh or the main principle was uh which is established by Swami Srila Prabhupada was that which are our core pillars is the books uh and books are kind of our basis uh for understanding the the philosophy. And as Krsna says that uh janma karma ca me divyam. So, in order to understand his birth and his lila and his nature and to understand Krsna, uh the books are our core foundation or core pillar. And our movement is a preaching movement and in order to preach and be preached uh we need to we need to understand the whole philosophy. Uh what is our philosophy? Uh what does the sastra says? And then we can by that way we can have we can get the sambandha to Krsna. Uh because then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu established this, right? Sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. So in order to get the sambandha we need to understand Krsna and in order to understand Krsna the books are our basis. Uh books books are like sastra is like our mother and who can guide us uh towards our father that is Krsna. So, so that's why in this class today we wanted to bring up that topic that uh the reading Srila Prabhupada books is a very important uh seva uh which we have to do every day. And Prabhupada did say that uh in his letters that uh at least the devotees should read one to two hours uh his books every day. And he also said that the best of mine is in my books. So, Prabhupada did say that um so so this kind of like yeah uh establishes the the point here that the books are reading of the books is very important. And it's also like you say sravanam kirtanam. So this sravan and kirtan is like the the main pillars of our spiritual realization. And in sravanam comes hearing and reading. So either hearing lectures, reading Srila Prabhupada books, uh one should we should always include in our daily sadhana. And Prabhupada also said that following four regulative principles, waking up early in the morning, chanting the 16 rounds, and reading books also. Uh so the hierarchy was like I think if I'm not wrong, health, uh chanting, service and reading. Uh but actually in in a way reading is also it doesn't mean that okay if you don't get time you don't read but at least we should spend some time in reading of Srila Prabhupada books and that will make our siddhanta or our faith in Krsna consciousness very firm. Uh if we do that regularly. And that and and also our uh nishta or our interest in chanting will will improvise uh every day if we if we read uh books uh regularly. Because that will also improve our realization. So, uh one thing was I was because there was expected to come many Indians here so I was thinking to say a little bit about Srila Prabhupada also. Uh because I wanted to also understand how how this preaching is is an important aspect in our movement and and how it comes from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all the way uh to Srila Prabhupada. Uh so, I just a little bit investigated and then uh it is said that in Bhagavad-gita 18.68 uh also it says that uh for one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed and at the end he will come back to me. So Krsna is saying that. And there is no servant in the world more dear to me than he nor will there ever be one more dear. So, so what Krsna is saying that one who explain this supreme secret uh the philosophy, the the science of uh God conscious uh to the devotees pure devotional service is guaranteed. Krsna himself is establishing this point here that uh this preaching is so so dear. The one who is preaching is is so dear to Krsna that the pure devotional service is guaranteed. So, so here we can see that uh Lord Krsna is also declaring that how dear it is uh if a devotee is preaching to him. Uh and then now we will see here like how Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu uh established this uh preaching aspect. Uh Hare Krsna. So, uh so Lord Chaitanya uh in Chaitanya Mangal uh it is said that um
yadi papi chadi ja dharmer dure deshe jai mora senapati bhakta jai be tathai
So if simple people give up religious principles and go to far off foreign lands, my senapati bhakta will go there to deliver them. And that is Srila Prabhupada. It is referred here commander in chief. So, as you can see that uh it was already before uh been revealed that uh Srila Prabhupada will come uh as a commander-in-chief, senapati bhakta, of Lord Chaitanya and spread this movement all over the world. So, and also in the I heard in one class that in in the Sri sampradaya also in uh Sri Rangam the Vaisnava devotee's also revealed that it was also revealed in the scriptures uh where they were reading and it's also mentioned about that Srila Prabhupada will you know come and deliver this holy name or spread this holy name all over the world. Uh so, so it is actually very very nice to hear this that uh you know I also heard this long back but it was nice to also understand from the sastra point uh how our dear Srila Prabhupada and how this movement the whole movement is so uh how do I say active and so effective in in our in everyone's devotion and how quickly it is spreading all over the world. Uh Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat also says that um
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra prachar haibe mora nama
In as in as many towns and villages as exist on the surface of the earth, my holy name will be preached. So Lord Chaitanya proclaims this that you know the the global scope. And then once the disciples of Srila Prabhupada asked to him that uh when Lord Chaitanya says that you know the holy name will be spread all over the world then why didn't Lord Chaitanya spread it uh when his time was there? So, so then Prabhupada says that uh he wanted me to do that uh service. So, so as we can see that Srila Prabhupada spread uh you know came to the west and uh spread all over the world now the holy name. And the Lord Chaitanya's uh teachings and the mission was been carried forward. Uh also it is said in Bhavisya Purana uh that I am just directly reading the translation. The mlecchas who are born from mixed countries will become brahmanas. They will wear sikhas and brahmana threads and will become well versed in Srimad-Bhagavatam. They will worship me by the yajna prescribed by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So this is also said in Bhavisya Purana about it's clearly said that you know the the devotees from the West will come uh as a brahmana, they will become brahmana and uh they will worship uh and spread uh they will worship uh Lord by the yajna prescribed, the yuga dharma uh sankirtana yajna prescribed by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, it's not something that, you know, everything has been already documented and uh said. Padma Purana also saying Bhakti Devi that I will leave this land and go to foreign countries to spread devotion. Uh so I will leave this land that is in brackets India and go to foreign countries to spread devotion. Uh she's lamenting to Narada Muni about the degradation of the age of Kali and uh and uh she is saying this this is from Bani quotes also. So, so we can see that uh that Lord Chaitanya who is Krsna himself in the mixed in in the mood of Srimati Radharani, Krsna himself coming and uh you know in the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya and regenerating the whole whole sampradaya and actually giving the energy to the sampradaya and how it is connecting uh Krsna directly. And then after Lord Chaitanya the Sad-goswamis uh and then uh through that uh lineage we can see Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and Saraswati Goswami Maharaj and then Srila Prabhupada. So that's why uh this the movement or the sampradaya which we are now into uh the International society is so uh is is so purely giving the the the right philosophy. Uh the the right mood uh to to for for the devotional for the devotion to the Lord. And uh it doesn't mean that other sampradayas are not. There are four bonafide sampradayas. Uh as we have said in before the classes that uh Sri sampradaya and Rudra, Kumara and Brahma Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya which we are into. Uh but as by the appearance of Lord Chaitanya and uh also by Srila Prabhupada after that uh the whole movement is so uh the whole sampradaya and the movement is so active and so booming now. Because uh because of the the mercy of the Lord and uh and his devotees uh like Srila Prabhupada. So we should take advantage of that uh by reading Srila Prabhupada books. As before you came we were just discussing about um what are the instructions of Srila Prabhupada? The main fundamental and that was one was about also reading the books uh of Srila Prabhupada and uh and that thing I think many times uh in our congregation we I felt like we are missing that. Uh and that way, you know, it doesn't um the kirtana the chanting is is not improvised or or the devotion is not um steady or the sadhana is not you know good because our hearing process or reading process is not uh given time. So the books are very important uh which we should all uh take a note on that. I know you are all doing but this was more important for myself to to know that uh the reading of the books is also as important as chanting of the holy name. Uh so of course one should chant minimum 16 rounds and uh on top of that uh we should spend time on reading. Uh I will take few few verses later but uh which also kind of from Bhagavad-gita which emphasizing emphasizes on the knowledge, on the on why why reading or why getting the knowledge uh the jnana yoga why that is also important uh in our devotional life. But uh before that uh I was thinking like um if you want to share something about on the on the preaching aspect um you want to say something about uh why or how to say like how do I phrase it like uh when it says like preaching is the essence. Of course Srila Prabhupada directly doesn't mention that but it was it was in the I think uh back to Godhead magazine uh also that uh this uh sentence about books are the basis, preaching is the essence, purity is the force and utility is the what is that? Utility is the principle.
Q: Principle.
A: Principle. So why why why did it says that preaching is the essence here? Like why not something else? Um or so it was very actually I mean it was a little a point to understand that uh why does it say here that preaching is the essence? I mean like uh I mean for example someone is cooking inside or someone is doing the deity worship or so what what does it mean exactly like preaching is the essence. It's a broad meaning. It's not only that but I wanted to hear from all of you. Uh what exactly now we were discussing about books are the basis that we got little point about that and we will also hear more. Uh then we will also understand about preaching is the essence and purity is the force and utility. Okay, we can take that also. But my point was also on that why how books are the basis and how how is the preaching is the essence here? What is what is meant by preaching here exactly? Or how how preaching is the essence uh in in a from the Srila Prabhupada uh point of uh or or you can say Lord Chaitanya's mission how how is this preaching? Uh where it comes from and how how does it come to this level of that the preaching is the essence here? Maybe if you anything, you know, you want to share about like, you know, it has come through something, right? That how preaching is the essence here.
Q: To be able to do the preaching, you must first read the books.
A: Yeah, of course books are the basis, exactly. As we said. So, yes, without books we cannot preach. Without even Lord Chaitanya says that siddhanta karre karre nalas or something. There is a verse that says that Lord Chaitanya is saying that to understand the siddhanta, to understand the philosophy one should not become lazy. So he also emphasizes on uh on understanding the siddhanta. But uh my point was also again that why preaching or why not let's say distributing prasadam or why not just specifically let's say I mean something else but why why about preaching. Yes. You already know.
Q: Preaching is a very wide concept. And Prabhupada says here you have to read the books first. That's true. Then you know the philosophy. You also have to learn from advanced devotees and from spiritual master. And people generally pay more attention to your behavior than what you say. So you also have to be kind of an acarya meaning that you teach by your example. So preaching is the life and soul of the devotee because it is the ultimate expression of compassion. By enlightening other people in attractive ways.
A: Exactly.
Q: About the all-attractive supreme personality of Godhead. You can't do anything better.
A: Exactly.
Q: So cooking is also preaching. If it's done perfectly offered on the altar perfectly.
A: Exactly.
Q: You know there are so many areas. Deity worship.
A: Exactly.
Q: But that's all. Being an example and attract other people. Wow, I want to become like him. How can I do that? He's so dedicated to Krsna, how can I be that too?
A: Exactly. Yeah, that's true. Even mopping or cleaning the floor is also preaching. Directly or indirectly. That's what I wanted to also come to that point.
Q: Even the toilets.
A: Exactly, is also preaching. But uh nice point. This is what I wanted to hear. But
Q: I just wanted to add, as you mentioned in the verse number 18.68. Krsna says that there is no one dear to me than the one who passes on this knowledge.
A: To others. Yes.
Q: Once we learn about it. First of all, it has to be learning. And then if we know something which is so nice, Krsna consciousness, then when we pass it to others, then Krsna is happy and the ultimate goal is to make Krsna happy. So that is one of the reasons.
A: Exactly. And and yeah, this is uh was I also thinking that very important is that because it's the Lord's direct instruction and also Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when he appeared, he he spread this sankirtana movement and he also sent his disciples to go all over the place and spread this uh you know, Hari nam. Hari nam, Hari nam, Hari nam eva kevalam. So, so he also like uh informed Nityananda Prabhu and you know everyone his disciples his associates to go all over Bengal and nearby places and and spread the holy name uh the Lord's name as much as possible. And this is also like a direct instruction from the Lord about the preaching. And as Prabhu says that everything around uh the devotion whatever we are doing is directly or indirectly preaching only. It's not that whoever is only speaking, the Lord's message is only about preaching, it's not that. It's the whole the broad term is that everything whatever is assisting uh in the devotional service assisting the Lord's devotion, everything is considered as a preaching. So, but the most important thing is again that in order to do that, we must also take help of this guru sadhu sastra. So the sastra uh comes also a very important role that uh who we must read. We must read from the books, take help of the sadhu's here devotee here from the senior devotees, you know, ask questions if you have and uh and then if you have guru, you know also you can take instructions uh from the guru. So this guru sadhu sastra. So the sastra also that is the reading of the books is also the first and foremost very important and in the whole life in our spiritual journey, uh reading Srila Prabhupada books regularly is is the most is one of the most fundamental uh core pillar. Because sravanam comes first and then kirtan in in that you can see sravanam kirtanam Visnu. So, so if we if our kirtan we want to improvise then it goes hand in hand that we must have our sravan regular sravanam. So, regularly hearing and reading uh will improvise our kirtan also. And it will increase the taste of our kirtan. So,
Q: Can I say something here? Yes.
A: There is a secret to reading the books which maybe we sometimes don't think about. Krsna says raja vidya rajo guhyam. And then it says pratyaksavagamam dharmyam susukham kartumavyayam. That by direct experience from reading you become very happy. Susukham kartum. So, when you get into the reading, absorb yourself, not only is your japa becoming much better, but you feel happy. You want And you got something to talk about with other devotees. Yes. So, reading is absolutely the basis.
A: Maybe, yeah, on top of that we can also take a very spontaneous question that what is your realization around the reading? When you first time read or Prabhupada books or I have some experiences which my own realization I can say. But I wanted to hear from all of you. Maybe all of you have different different realization from reading the Prabhupada books. The first time when you read like how when you came in contact with Prabhupada books, you might have different, you know, experiences. Like Prabhu said one experience like few experiences that uh it it gives you satisfaction that, you know, uh by reading books you get some realizations and like that. But You can also share your realizations. What you thought like uh you know when you came in contact with Prabhupada books uh or or maybe I can start with saying my own. Like uh when I read like for example Bhagavad-gita, I thought like uh I had many doubts in my, you know, um in my mind and uh reading Prabhupada book like Bhagavad-gita and, you know, uh and hearing from the devotees actually cleared many of the doubts around uh basic philosophy like who is Krsna and, you know, why should we worship Krsna and why not other demigods and uh like, you know, what is the uh how to say what is our own uh who are we and like that, you know, why why this, why not that, why not. So many doubts were actually when I was reading first time it was giving more and more interest to because it was it's like revealing and uh answering and kind of satisfying that our doubts are actually cleared by just keeping little faith on that. So that was one of my realization which I thought was nice. But maybe if you have something, you can share.
Q: Prabhuji, there is also an important point that this is a Kali Yuga, this age. It's important to uh go for the name of the Lord. In other ages, they do other things. Uh you know that. Yeah, Paricarana.
A: And dhyana yoga, dhyana yoga, tretayuga. They have their own dharma. Deity worship and uh meditation and uh what is that? Yajna and Okay. So, so yeah, of course, uh but we are seeing here that in order to to have more faith in our chanting and more more interest, um you know in so that we can avoid offensive chanting. We are saying here that uh the sravanam is also very important because sravanam and kirtana like is like uh is like the water to our devotion and uh if we keep keep doing hearing and chanting then uh our bhakti lata will be strong. And it can reach uh to the Lord's feet.
Q: Prabhuji, what is offensive chanting?
A: Offensive chanting. Some you can say something anyone. Okay. Offensive chanting is like Prabhupada has said like 10 uh basically uh things which should avoid. And uh like few of them is like while chanting the the main root cause of that is the inattentive chanting is also offensive. That we are calling the Lord by chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. And then uh we are not attentive to that. That we are calling but then we are, you know, turning our
Q: Mind.
A: Exactly. That that's like a disrespect. Uh that on one side we are calling and one side which at least, you know, I and uh might be others be doing that. So we should not do that. Uh because Prabhupada said that if we do offenseless chanting then we will quickly uh progress in our spiritual uh journey back to Godhead. So there are actually 10 uh offenses. Uh you can say.
Q: If you search for this 10 offenses to the holy name, you can get it. So, the first one is to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord.
A: So, the first is like is all for all of us to also get reminded that uh to blaspheme other devotees uh like sometimes, you know, uh we we might be chanting and then we'll say, "Oh, this devotee this and that." And you know we might be blaspheming other devotees through our mental or by saying also like, "Oh, he he told this and that." You know? So, one should not do that uh who have dedicated their life. So the the devotees have dedicated their lives in spreading this movement. And then we are kind of blaspheming that that, you know, it's like so
Q: Practice.
A: Yeah. So, yeah, Sanatana Goswami.
Q: The second offense is to consider the names of demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be equal to or independent of the name of the Lord Vishnu.
A: So, yeah, it's like uh sometimes we might think that, okay, Hare Krsna chanting is like, you know, we are chanting also our uh demi let's say, for example, someone will have more inclination toward Ganesa or like other demigods. But uh if we are thinking that, okay, we are chanting this and this also covers Actually, it's like Lord is the root of the the the, you know, he's he's the supreme personality. So, in a in in the the right understanding is that when we are chanting the holy name, the chanting the Lord's name, then automatically it all the demigods and everything is covered. They are also pleased because we are pleasing the Lord. So that's the right understanding rather than the understanding that, you know, we wanted to we are chanting this uh and then this is equal to chanting the other demigods chanting like Brahma or like that. So that that is the main important thing.
Q: The third one is to disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
A: Yeah, like on one side we are chanting and then the Lord who is the representative the the guru is the representative of the Lord. So, so actually we if we disobey his instructions and on one side we are trying to please the Lord by chanting and on the other side we are not following the instructions of the Lord himself then it's like, you know, two contrary things that uh so so something like. But we on each and every offense whole day classes can be given. There are internet, you can find different classes on the I mean during initiation also I think there are this is the most important class on the initiation day that of 10 offenses uh one should know and one should understand them and one should avoid that. It's very important.
Q: Yeah.
A: But I think it's good because we all wanted to hear that.
Q: The fourth one is to blaspheme the Vedic scriptures or scriptures in pursuance to the Vedic version.
A: Yeah, blaspheming the scriptures that this is not right, this is maybe this is not correct or this is by putting our own mental, you know, concoction then it's not good to blaspheme like why Bhagavad-gita says that Lord Krsna is the supreme or why this and that and, you know, it's better to yeah, I mean, you can take help of guru sadhu sastra to understand that but rather than blaspheming that that's not really because then we are blaspheming the the Lord's vani, the Lord's words and that's not good because we are chanting and also blaspheming the Lord. That doesn't go hand in hand.
Q: To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krsna to be an imagination.
A: Yeah, sometimes we think that Hare Krsna maha mantra is just like the normal ordinary someone has just, you know, said and we are just, you know, it's not really an imagination. It's actually coming from golokera prema dhana Hari nam sankirtana. So, it's actually coming from the Lord's abode and that's why it is so powerful. It's not something that ISKCON has invented or it's not something because this is very immediate belief that, you know, when some like sometimes Indians come and they think that, "Oh, well, why Hare Krsna maha mantra?" Maybe this just ISKCON has, you know. But it's not actually like that. It's said in the sastras, Puranas, Kali Santaran Upanishad also it says the direct the whole verse and that's why it has been the the Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the father or of this Hare Krsna maha mantra who is the pioneer and then the the Lord the I mean Srila Prabhupada and, you know, they just, you know, passed on or spreaded this holy name this maha mantra all over the world. So that's why it is
Q: The sixth offense is to give some interpretations to the holy name of the Lord.
A: I think we already said that.
Q: The seventh one is to commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name.
A: This is very important. That, um, okay, sometimes, you know, that, uh, we think that, okay, we have chanted good rounds or like so many chanted and now we can do whatever we like, uh, in the beginning, you know, oh, 16 rounds finished, now we do whatever we like to do, you know, uh, maybe some sinful activities which we know, we are still probably doing that. Like, you know, then we should not do or on the strength of that that, okay, now I have chanted, so I can do whatever I like or, you know, that kind of mindset. One should not have. Uh, sometimes I have seen like someone will kill that insect or knowingly or unknowingly and then say, "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna," like that. So, I mean, okay, good to say, but one should not at least think that, okay, you know, uh, on the strength of this chanting, I can really do this and that, then.
Q: Eighth offense is to consider chanting of Hare Krsna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities, karma kanda.
A: This also very important. That it's general mindset, since I am also coming from India, that general mindset that we go to the temple for asking for a well-being of, you know, oneself like, or for my good marks or nice job or or I will, so that or my daily, let's say, so that I don't get, I mean, my whole day goes good, basically. So, the general mindset is to go to the temple when something is not going good in the life. Or for praying that that the the things go prosperity increases, you know? We are, so, so that mindset normally it is. And then when we started when we start to chant, sometimes we also put that mindset that, okay, by chanting I will get good this and that. Okay, on one sense, in the beginning, maybe like like Bhagavad-gita says that, you know, this four types of pious people who are in distress or need of wealth, you know, they come to Krsna. Okay, good. And slowly, slowly, by even like Dhruva Maharaj came to Krsna for asking for something. But then the the heart will get purified when we start to chant attentively and offenseless. And then slowly these things will also, but this was important to understand that we are not here to chant the holy name just to get some material benefit. It is about pleasing the Lord uh unconditionally.
Q: Two things.
A: Yeah.
Q: I just asked my daughter this point. Because many times like I had just suggested people to chant when they are distressed or they come, they say, "Mamaji, I have this problem. I am not feeling well, what should I do?" So, I always suggest them to chant. So, is it an offense?
A: No, it's not really.
Q: Because I'm telling them that you chant your distress will go. You chant, you it it will it will
A: There are two things. Like as even Bhagavad-gita says, Krsna says, that those who are distressed, even they come to Krsna and Krsna considers them as pious still because at least they are coming to the right source where their distress can go actually. Uh but uh but this was about karma kanda, right? What we were saying about? So karma kanda is not about that.
Q: But I am telling them like, you know, that you chant. Things will be better. You chant, your your life will become better.
A: Of course, it will be better because one will.
Q: So, then they chant with that intention. That I'm chanting, so the problems in my life will go. You understand? So, then they is that right or not?
A: Maybe.
Q: It's no or it's no
Q: You should trust Mahaprabhu's tatropi tan ya. That there is no hard and fast rules for chanting. If you just, I personally have a confession. Hare Krsna maha mantra* helped me quit smoking once when I was a student. Because instead of taking a cigarette, I just chanted and I had a wow, there was so much satisfaction there. So I didn't need the nicotine.
A: Yeah, exactly.
Q: Yeah.
A: I think there was two like not a Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami I was hearing in one lecture that uh in one it was said that by slowly, slowly like this, even if someone is going after Krsna for a material slowly, slowly his heart will purify and he will come out of that mood of asking for a material benefit. And on other side, you know, it could be that one has to be completely freed from this. But but actually we are in the mercy movement. You know, kripa siddha. So so for us the most important is to get the mercy of the guru and, you know, on Srila Prabhupada. So so I would say that, you know, in in anyena prakarena, you know, if someone comes to the Krsna consciousness in any in any case, it's still favorable to bring them. But uh but one should know that the right the mood, the right consciousness that our motivation is not to promote the to give them the the simple understanding of Krsna consciousness as presented by Srila Prabhupada and, you know, not to too much complex it or uh just make it very simple and and uh of course, one can motivate them. Uh but uh but more important is to read. In your own language, you can read Hindi, English or, you know, uh, yeah, Bengali or Oriya, there are many Bhagavad-gitas in your own languages. You can read but, uh, yeah, so we can end this, right? Here actually I wanted to read more but I think it's not more than this. So, so, unfortunately, we also got books. So, and there is a lot of books inside. But uh most important is Bhagavad-gita to start with. And Prabhupada's small books are also very good. Uh easy journey to other planets, Chant and be happy and all the books. So, perfect question, perfect answer. But, uh, yeah, take Bhagavad-gita and aim, put put a vow in your life that, okay, now in in four months I will finish Bhagavad-gita or or at least take a vow that, okay, every day one verse or two verses or or 15 minutes or 20 minutes or 30 minutes whatever time you have uh in your life. Uh you can you can make your own uh schedule. Like, okay, 30 minutes. Most important is to start with Prabhupada books. That is how we will connect with Srila Prabhupada and and then that mood or that Krsna Krsna which is in the Srila Prabhupada books will, you know, will enter in our heart. Because we are taking shelter of Srila Prabhupada and and then he will do the rest.
Q: better than the book.
A: Uh-huh.
Q: something different from this topic, like Srila Prabhupada said that we should first concentrate on our health. Then comes the sadhana.
A: Chanting. Health, chanting, service and reading.
Q: And then service. Yeah, like three.
A: Service and then reading. Okay.
Q: Health, sadhana and then service. Okay. So, since long, my what I am doing is, my sequence is, you know, reverse. Service. Then then sadhana. May be Prabhu can say. I have not so.
A: And then, you know.
Q: And I don't know I'm trying my best to reverse it, but somehow or how I'm not able to.
A: It's no or it's no or.
Q: It's no or.
A: Even if I have.
Q: It's no or. Even if I say it will not be so effective but may be Prabhu has more experience.
A: And I don't know.
Q: And if I have it won't work. Because he's already in the spiritual world because there you don't have to care about health, you don't have a body that can malfunction. Always it's working for the purpose of serving Mahaprabhu to please Krsna continuously. And then suddenly people are not saying Gayatri or chanting this and that. They're just serving Mahaprabhu. Reading, I don't know.
A: But uh, I think, uh, I mean this is my own opinion but, uh, what I felt is health is also very important. Uh because many devotees around what I have seen that they have ignored that and I mean the main reason for keeping the health is that we can function or our our sadhana or our preaching can go on nicely actually we can we can preach more nicely and, you know, you know and fulfill Srila Prabhupada's mission or help in Srila Prabhupada's mission. So that way, you know, our health is actually also Our health is very important, uh, to not to be ignored and I I think I I have also faced that in the beginning we are very, you know, enthusiastic that, okay, now we want to do service, service, service, all the time service, service, service. But then we ignore sometimes we ignore our kids, sometimes we ignore our own health. But I think that might get you will get the consequences later on, later. But, uh, of course, we are all doing this the chanting and everything praying to Krsna for the service, right? But but we are not in that platform of, you know, of fully surrendered of to Krsna. So, so so that means, you know, we must take care of our health. If the health is good, you know, then we can, uh, how to say? Easier. Yeah, it will be easier. What is that saying? Uh, healthy, wealthy and wise. Yeah. I mean, wake up morning, right? Something was early to bed, early to rise, makes a man well, healthy, wealthy and wise. But this is also very important to go back to bed early and get up early and take care of the health also very important aspect. You want to say. You can. Okay.
Q: In a marriage, it's very important that the husband cares for the health of the wife and vice versa. Yeah.
A: Okay.
Q: You see what's going on. Tell Prabhu, you're working too much, earlier. You know.
A: Yeah, good point.
Q: So. You're too You have to care for one another.
A: Good point, yeah. So, yes, I think health is important. We all know and we might be facing consequences if we are not taking care of health. So, so, okay. So, we should take care of health. If you don't have any questions or anything to add, okay.
A: Yeah. I'm just wondering about uh Srila Prabhupada, uh, does he come every time that, uh, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu comes to Earth? Uh, I mean I haven't heard anything like that but, uh, Lord Chaitanya is yugavatara. He, of course, comes, uh, in every cycle. Uh, and, uh, what it says is senapati. So, uh, he the Lord, you know, whenever there is a need, uh, and, uh, he can send his senapati or he can, I mean, whenever there is irreligiousity or the Lord says, you know, he will appear directly or he will send his, uh, his associates in the form of, uh, it could be Srila Prabhupada, it could be his, uh, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj, Goswamis, you know. So, it can be any of his, uh, parshadas. So that can be someone else. I mean, but normally this lila, you know, comes, uh, is is it comes again and again, uh, in every chatur yugas, right? So, we don't know if I, I don't have direct any, uh, that, uh, that only Srila Prabhupada come for, is it? But, uh, at least for now, of course, it's Srila Prabhupada who has been empowered by the Lord to to to spread this message of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, we should take advantage of it. Okay, Hare Krsna.