CC Adi 7.92 – Tasting and Distributing Krishna Consciousness

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. So, we shall read a verse and purport from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Chapter Seven, Text Ninety-Two.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Before we read today’s verse, I will read the introductory verse to this Chapter of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Chapter Seven, Text One.

TEXT 1

agaty-eka-gatiṁ natvā

hīnārthādhika-sādhakam

śrī-caitanyaṁ likhyate ‘sya

prema-bhakti-vadānyatā

TRANSLATION

Let me first offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is the ultimate goal of life for one bereft of all possessions in this material world and is the only meaning for one advancing in spiritual life. Thus let me write about His magnanimous contribution of devotional service in love of God.

COMMENT

And now we come to Text Ninety-Two.

TEXT 92

nāca, gāo, bhakta-saṅge kara saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi’ tāra’ sarva-jana

COMMENT

This, by the way, is Lord Chaitanya’s spiritual master speaking to Him. This was the instruction that Mahaprabhu’s spiritual master gave to Him.

TRANSLATION

‘My dear child,’ [By the way, this is Lord Chaitanya’s spiritual master speaking to Him. This was the instruction that Mahaprabu’s spiritual master gave to him.] ’My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing saṅkīrtana in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting kṛṣṇa-nāma, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.’

COMMENT

So, as I read the purport, I will be commenting, so it won’t be very useful to have the purport on the screen, but I will just read and speak.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

It is another ambition of the spiritual master to see his disciples not only chant, dance and follow the regulative principles but also preach the saṅkīrtana movement to others in order to deliver them, for the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based on the principle that one should become as perfect as possible in devotional service oneself and also preach the cult for others’ benefit. 

COMMENT

So, this is our basic process, to taste Krishna consciousness and distribute Krishna consciousness. It’s important for us to taste Krishna consciousness. As Srila Prabhupada says that if a physician heals thyself, if we are trying to heal others through Krishna consciousness, we ourselves should have been healed by Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada said if you are smoking and you tell someone not to smoke, it won’t be very effective because you are smoking.

So, yeah, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed, and Srila Prabhupada, indirectly referred to the verse in his purport bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra. Bhārata-bhūmite, anyone who has taken his birth in Bharata, which generally means India, but it can also mean Bhārata-varṣa, planet earth. Bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra janma sārthaka, you should make your human life successful by becoming Krishna consciousness, and then engage in welfare activities for others, para-upakāra, by offering them Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT (continued)

There are two classes of unalloyed devotees — namely, goṣṭhy-ānandīs and bhajanānandīs. Bhajanānandī refers to one who is satisfied to cultivate devotional service for himself, and goṣṭhy-ānandī is one who is not satisfied simply to become perfect himself but wants to see others also take advantage of the holy name of the Lord and advance in spiritual life.

COMMENT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that the best goṣṭhyānandī is a bhajanānandī who preaches. Meaning the best preacher is one who relishes bhajan, Krishna consciousness. Well, I’ll just repeat that to bring us back to where we were.

PURPORT continued

Bhajanānandī refers to one who is satisfied to cultivate devotional service for himself, and goṣṭhy-ānandī is one who is not satisfied simply to become perfect himself but wants to see others also take advantage of the holy name of the Lord and advance in spiritual life. The outstanding example is Prahlāda Mahārāja. When he was offered a benediction by Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, Prahlāda Mahārāja said:

naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraṇyās

tvad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ

śoce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyārtha-

māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān

“My dear Lord, I have no problems and want no benediction from You because I am quite satisfied to chant Your holy name. This is sufficient for me because whenever I chant I immediately merge in an ocean of transcendental bliss. I only lament to see others bereft of Your love.”

COMMENT

Once, I was sitting before Srila Prabhupada in his quarters, upstairs in Juhu, which are now maintained very nicely by Vrajasundari and Jayashri, the two transcendental sisters. So, I was sitting before Srila Prabhupada upstairs in his room in Juhu, and seemingly, without any context, he suddenly said, “Our only lamentation. . .” And then he paused and it was very dramatic. He said, “Our only lamentation. . .” And within my mind, I was filling in the rest of the sentence, imagining how Srila Prabhupada might complete it.

Srila Prabhupada said, “Our only lamentation is that people are not taking to Krishna consciousness.” So, my dear devotees, is that your only lamentation? Well, anyway, “Our only lamentation is that people are not taking to Krishna consciousness.” And that was stated exactly by Prahlada Maharaja in this verse, that Srila Prabhupada is quoting in the purport. Śoce means lamentation.

Like the Bhagavad-gītā says, na śocati na kāṅkṣati, one should not lament or hanker. But this is a spiritual lamentation, born of compassion for the fallen souls.

PURPORT (continued)

“My dear Lord, I have no problems and I want no benediction from You because I am quite satisfied to chant Your holy name. This is sufficient for me because whenever I chant I immediately merge into an ocean of transcendental bliss. I only lament to see others bereft of Your love. They are rotting in material activities for transient material pleasure and spoiling their lives toiling all day and night simply for sense gratification, with no attachment for love of Godhead. I am simply lamenting for them and devising various plans to deliver them from the clutches of māyā.” (Bhāg. 7.9.43)

COMMENT

So, Prahalada is lamenting for their condition, but not just idly lamenting, but thinking of ways to help them and bring them to Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT (continued)

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains in his Anubhāṣya, “A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. 

COMMENT

So, this is a very interesting qualification that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura puts forth for preaching, and that is that one should relish chanting and dancing with devotees. Practically, every word in this verse is significant, but one of the most significant words is bhakta-saṅge, in the association of devotees. We can properly execute devotional service, bhakta-saṅge, in the association of devotees. And we can preach effectively, bhakta-saṅge, in the association of devotees. So, the association of devotees is most essential.

PURPORT (continued)

A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees.

COMMENT

In other words, when the spiritual master is pleased with the disciple’s sincere service, he blesses him with the taste for chanting and dancing in the association of devotees.

PURPORT (continued)

The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. Those who are not advanced prefer to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in a solitary place.” Such activities constitute, in the language of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, a type of cheating process in the sense that they imitate the activities of exalted personalities like Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One should not attempt to imitate such exalted devotees. 

COMMENT

So, to actually sit and chant twenty-four hours in a solitary place as Haridasa Thakura could requires one to be a liberated soul, and most of us are not liberated souls. And for us to try to simply sit in a solitary place and chant, is imitation, it’s not real because we are not on that platform.

In fact, Srila Prabhupada said that if one doesn’t preach but if he just wants to sit and chant, he’ll probably end up just thinking about money and sex. So, better to preach. Either way, if you are a liberated soul like Prahalada Maharaja or Haridasa Thakura, or if you are not yet liberated,. iIt’s better to preach.

PURPORT (continued)

One should not attempt to imitate such exalted devotees. Rather, everyone should endeavor to preach the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all parts of the world and thus become successful in spiritual life. One who is not very expert in preaching may chant in a secluded place, avoiding bad association, but for one who is actually advanced, preaching and meeting people who are not engaged in devotional service are not disadvantages.

COMMENT

So, here Srila Prabhupada is pointing out the paradox, or the reversal, that someone who is just sitting in one place and chanting may think or present himself as being more advanced. But Srila Prabhupada says to the contrary that one who can only sit and chant is not advanced, but one who can actually go out and preach is more advanced.

PURPORT (continued)

One who is not very expert in preaching may chant in a secluded place, avoiding bad association, but for one who is actually advanced, preaching and meeting people who are not engaged in devotional service are not disadvantages. A devotee gives the non-devotees his association but is not affected by their misbehavior.

COMMENT

So, yeah, that requires some spiritual strength, and that spiritual strength is acquired, bhakta-saṅge, by associating with devotees and chanting and dancing and hearing in their association. And that is described in this verse as kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi, by instructing people about kṛṣṇa-nāma. And often, nāma includes nāma, rūpa, guna, līlā, everything about Krishna. And that upadeśi, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructs elsewhere, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa.

Āmāra ājñāya, on my order, you become guru and deliver everyone in this land. How? By repeating the message of Krishnaa, ’kṛṣṇa’-upadeśakṛṣṇa upadeśi.

The words about Krishna. We’ll say first the words by Krishna in the Bhagavad-gītā, and the words about Krishna in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So, that is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s open instruction, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa. So, here we find the same sort of phrase, kṛṣṇa-nāma upadeśi, by instructing people about the value of chanting Hare Krishna. That is service to the holy name. We are eternal servants of the holy name. And by serving the holy name, the holy name becomes pleased and gives us His mercy to chant and hear and dance and preach.

PURPORT (continued)

Thus, by the activities of a pure devotee even those who are bereft of love of Godhead get a chance to become devotees of the Lord one day.

COMMENT

Of course, perhaps the best example is Srila Prabhupada, who left India and came to America at the advanced age of seventy years, and he met people who you can’t imagine. Our wonderful devotee in Mumbai, Krishna Chandra dasa, Hrishikesh Mafatlal, he always says that people should see the videos of the people to whom Srila Prabhupada was preaching when he first came to America. You can see those videos of Srila Prabhupada in New York City and in San Francisco. And Krishna Chandra Prabhu says you can’t imagine the types of people that Srila Prabhupada was preaching to. So, Srila Prabhupada himself is the best example of this verse.

PURPORT (continued)

A devotee gives the non-devotees his association but is not affected by their misbehavior. Thus, by the activities of a pure devotee even those who are bereft of love of Godhead get a chance to become devotees of the Lord one day.

COMMENT

I’m a living example. I mean, in a way, we probably all are. We are living examples of how by Srila Prabhupada’s merciful preaching, we have come to Krishna consciousness.

PURPORT (continued)

In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura advises that one discuss the verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning naitat samācarej jātu manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ.

COMMENT

I could paraphrase it but I think I’ll read it. Bhakti dasa, can you hand me the book? It’s 10.33, probably part two. We are looking for 10.33.30. Yes.

TEXT 30

naitat samācarej jātu
manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ
vinaśyaty ācaran mauḍhyād
yathārudro ’bdhi-jaṁ viṣam

TRANSLATION

One who is not a great controller should never imitate the behavior of ruling personalities, even mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary person does imitate such behavior, he will simply destroy himself, just as a person who is not Rudra would destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of poison.

COMMENT

So, this verse is quoted by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He actually advises that one discuss the verse, to the effect that one should not imitate a great personality. If one tries to imitate a great personality, he can come into difficulty. But of course, we can serve such great personalities and try to follow in their footsteps.

PURPORT (continued)

In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura advises that one discuss the verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning naitat samācarej jātu manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ (10.33.30), and the following verse in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.255): In this connection Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura advises that one discuss the verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning naitat samācarej jātu manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ (10.33.30), and the following verse in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.255):

anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ

nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate

COMMENT

So, this verse describes yuktaṁ vairāgyam. Yeah, it’s a very important verse, one that should guide us in our devotional service, and one that, again, was very much exemplified by Srila Prabhupada in his devotional service. Aanāsaktasya means without attachment, viṣayān means you could say the objects of the senses or material things. Aanāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ, nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate.

So, yukta-vairāgya means appropriate renunciation. In other words, one should not reject things which have a connection with Krishna, thinking that they are material. But rather, without attachment, one should engage those things in Krishna’s service. And that is yukta-vairāgya, appropriate renunciation.

So, Srila Prabhupada showed how anything and everything can be engaged in Krishna’s service. He used to give the example of the dictaphone. He gave the example in The Nectar of Devotion, that the person who invented the dictaphone machine never thought that this machine would be used to preach the glories of the Lord. But we, as devotees of Krishna, are using the dictaphone in Krishna’s service. So, that’s yukta-vairāgya. So, coming back to the purport, the last two sentences.

PURPORT (continued)

One should not imitate the activities of great personalities. One should be detached from material enjoyment and should accept everything in connection with Kṛṣṇa’s service.

COMMENT

So, this is a very important instruction for us on how to conduct ourselves as devotees. Yeah, not trying to imitate more advanced devotees, for example, by chanting three lakh names like Haridasa Thakura, but we should preach. And as Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master instructed him, “That will do good for you, and that will do good for the people who hear you.” So, preaching is like that, it’s beneficial for us, who preach, and beneficial for the people who hear us.

And in fact, in one talk in Calcutta, Srila Prabhupada said that preaching is the best way to be Krishna conscious, because when you preach, people will ask questions. And in order to answer your questions, you have to think of Krishna. So yeah, I think of the lines by William Shakespeare, “The quality of mercy is not strained, it falls like the gentle rains from heaven, and it benefits both the one who bestows the mercy and the one who receives the mercy.” So, so nice, so beautiful that it’s beneficial for us, who speak about Krishna, and for those who hear from us about Krishna.

So, thank you very much. I’m not sure how much time we have, but we’ve been together for about an hour. But I would like to open the floor, or the mic, for questions and comments, and we can have more discussion. I see Devakinandan Prabhu, are you raising your hand?

Devakinandan dasa: Yes, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Please.

Devakinandan dasa: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for accepting our invitation. I was thinking I’ll be in Kanpur, but I had to come to Bombay, now I’m in Juhu. So, there are devotees from ISKCON Kanpur, and we also have a base in Prayagraj, some devotees are from there, and then BHU Varanasi, we have a base. So, I had requested Premharinam Prabhu that if you have time, maybe he can take the camera or darshan of Radha-Madhavaji, Janaki, Vallabha, Lakṣmaṇa, Hanuman and Nitai Gaurasundara and show the temple and the whole complex, if you have time.

And now my request was to you, if you can talk something about Srila Prabhupada, what he said about Kanpur, and because you had association of Srila Prabhupada in those days, when you were talking about Vrindavan and Bombay because you are always in your mind about Kanpur. So, if you remember something that you’d like to share with us.

Giriraj Swami: Well, it’s very nice for you to ask me, but I think you are the authority on what Srila Prabhupada said about Kanpur. I would request you to tell us what Srila Prabhupada said about Kanpur.

Devakinandan dasa: Well, he put me on the square.

Giriraj Swami: You are well versed in this subject.

Devakinandan dasa: Well, we wanted to hear from you if you remember something. I mean, always nice to hear.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. Well, of course, Kanpur was a very important city, and I think it was the headquarters of JK. And yeah, Srila Prabhupada used to speak about that family, the Singhania family, and he said that it was a rule in the family that everyone had to take darshan of the Deities before they began their day’s activities. And if any of the children or grandchildren missed, the grandmother would fine them, probably a small amount, but she would fine them and they would have to pay. So, yeah, it was a very cultured family, Krishna conscious.

I mean, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wanted Krishna consciousness in every town and village. Kanpur is an important city in India. So, definitely, we want to have something there, and you’ve done it, you and your team have done it very wonderfully. And Srila Prabhupada, of course, wanted cows, and it’s a very important element of sanātana-dharma, and I believe you have cows in Kanpur, so that’s also a good contribution. So yeah, before we end, we would be delighted to have darshan of the Deities there.

Vishwarup Prabhu has raised his hand. Please. Yes, unmute.

Vishwarup dasa: Yes, thank you. Thank you. Please accept my most humble obeisances, Giriraj Swami Maharaja. I wanted you to elaborate a little bit on that statement of mercy falling like rains benefits both. Please elaborate.

Giriraj Swami: Because I actually quoted it to His Holiness Devamrita Swami because there was a devotee in Laguna Beach who wanted second initiation, and he was reluctant to give it to her even though she was recommended by the temple president. So, he asked for my advice, and so I sent him that verse. And he said he was just looking for some confirmation, and he found my quoting that verse to be the confirmation he was looking for.

“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

Actually, I did a search for it, and I found it in a letter that I wrote to Vaisesika Prabhu, who asked my opinion about whether he should initiate someone, and I replied that the following words now are prominent in my mind, and then I quoted, “The quality of mercy is not strained.” In other words. . . Yeah, like Srila Prabhupada says, it’s not that if you give mercy you become depleted, but the more you give mercy, the more you get mercy. So, therefore, “The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

And that was, basically, what Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master told him and when he instructed him to preach, “It will do good for you, and it will do good for the people who hear you.” So, is that alright? Okay, thank you. Any other questions or comments?

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Am I audible?

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for your enlightening class. I wanted to ask you, actually, we have read about your book Many Moons, so we can see how genuine appreciation you have. So, I was asking that your wonderful genuine appreciation for all the Vaishnavas is very inspiring. In our life, I wanted to know how to develop such a kind of genuine appreciation for all the Vaishnavas, especially whom we are serving with or come in touch with.

Giriraj Swami: This was from ISKCON Kanpur?

Devakinandan dasa: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: But no video. If possible, I’d like to see the people who are asking the questions and to whom I’m responding, if it’s possible.

Devakinandan dasa: Dinanath Prabhu, can you put the video on, or you’ve taken the camera to deity? They may have taken the camera to the deity, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Well, how to develop appreciation for devotees? I would say the best way is to preach and meet non-devotees. And when you experience what non-devotees are like, you appreciate devotees more. The other way, and I think it was a major factor in my appreciation of the devotees in Many Moons, is to do service together, and that service should include chanting and hearing about Krishna together. In fact, in practically every case, almost every case, the devotees whom I described in Many Moons were devotees with whom I did a lot of chanting and hearing about Krishna with. And that makes our relationships very congenial. Because when it comes to practical service, we may have differences of opinion, we might think that the other person could have done it better, the other person might think we could have done it better. But when it comes to chanting and hearing about Krishna, it’s perfect from beginning to end. And that kind of association really nourishes our Krishna consciousness, and it also nourishes our relationship with the devotees, with whom we are chanting and hearing.

So yeah, I think that’s important. I mean, once, I was in Srila Prabhupada’s room in Mayapur a little after he left. And he had his front room, which was his darshan room, and then his back room, which was his bedroom. And so, I went into the bedroom to chant japa, and two of my god sisters came into the front room, Srila Prabhupada’s darshan room, and they had a book of prayers, and they were reading the prayers and discussing them, and I was struck by how sweet their association with each other was on the basis of Krishna consciousness.

So yeah, I think we should do that as much as possible. And there is a really beautiful verse in purport that I sometimes read and discuss, and in the purport, Srila Prabhupada says, this is an exact quotation, “Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should appreciate the service of others and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaikuntha thinking.” I think that verse and purport, in particular, are really a guide as to how we should see our fellow devotees and how we should interact with them.

Maybe I’ll read it. Bhakti dasa, can you bring down the Seventh Canto? So, here’s what Srila Prabhupada writes. This, by the way, is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.12) in the purport.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaiṣṇava thinking, Vaikuṇṭha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuṇṭha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuṇṭha competition. 

COMMENT

So, Srila Prabhupada explained the difference between transcendental competition and mundane competition. And in transcendental competition, one appreciates the service of the other but still wants to excel it, “So-and-so is doing such nice service. I want to do even better service.” Whereas in mundane competition, or envy, one doesn’t acknowledge or recognize the good service of the other, but rather one thinks, That devotee didn’t do so good. I could have done much better or People think that he’s better but I know what he’s really like.”

So, that’s different, that’s envy. But transcendental competition is described here.

PURPORT (continued)

There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuṇṭha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuṇṭha competition. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability [No one should be kept down], and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuṇṭha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to render service to the Lord  to the best of his ability and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuṇṭha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability.

COMMENT

So, yes, the whole verse and purport are very nice, but this gives real good direction for how we should cooperate. and Srila Prabhuapada has said, “Your love for me will be shown by how you cooperate.” So, this gives a very good direction of how we should cooperate and appreciate the service of others, not be proud of our own service, and encourage others to serve to their capacity. So, I hope this helps answer your question.

Devotee: Yes, Maharaja. Thank you very much, Maharaja.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for wonderfully describing the various activities of Vaishnavas and that are mentioned in this verse. You were quoting Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that how a best goṣṭhyānandī is a bhajanānandī who preaches. So, Maharaja, how can we have a good balance between the activities of bhajan, in terms of our own practices of devotional service, and also the activities of preaching that is giving Krishna consciousness to others. Because sometimes there is a tendency to go to the extremes, that is people may only preach and not concentrate on their own practices of devotional service, and there could be some who may focus very much on their own practices and not preach. So, how can we maintain a good balance?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. Well, Srila Prabhupada gave us the transcendental sandwich with our spiritual chanting and hearing in the morning and in the evening, and then preaching and other related services during the day. He really wanted us to read his books. In so many letters, he wrote that we should read his books for an hour every day. Of course, in a way, that’s included in the morning Bhāgavatam class and the evening Gītā class. But he did want us to read his books, and, in some letters, he said, two or three hours a day. But that would depend on your circumstances.

In the early days in India, Srila Prabhupada kept us very busy. This was before we even got Juhu. And I was with him in Calcutta, and I didn’t have time to read and I was feeling guilty about it, and I didn’t say anything to Srila Prabhupada. I was in his room in Calcutta, and he himself quoted Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto One, Chapter Two, Text, I think, Seventeen or maybe Eighteen.

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu

nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā

And that bhāgavata-sevayā, it can refer to the book Bhagavat or the person Bhagavat. And so, Srila Prabhupada said to me directly, “If you are serving the person Bhagavat, even if you don’t have time to read the book Bhagavat, all the truths of the book Bhagavat will be revealed to you.” So, he was really assuring me that by serving him, even if I didn’t have time to read, I would get the benefit.

But that was a special circumstance. Under ordinary circumstances, we should read. But the word ‘balance’ is very important that you mentioned. And yeah, we have to strike that balance. And what constitutes the right balance at one stage, may not be the proper balance at another stage in our life.

So, we constantly have to adjust the balance according to our own needs and the needs of the project, the requirements of our service. But yeah, I sometimes see it like eating and exercising. If you just eat and eat but you never exercise, you are not going to be very healthy. And if you just exercise and you never eat, you are also not going to be very healthy. So, the eating is compared to taking in Krishna consciousness by our chanting and reading, and the exercise is compared to our working to give Krishna consciousness to others.

So, we need the two, and the two actually reinforce each other, but good spiritual practices make us enthusiastic to preach, and good preaching encourages us to go deeper into our spiritual practices, so we can preach better. So, the two actually go together. Is that alright?

Devotee: Thank you very much, Maharaja. Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: So, any other questions or comments?

Devotee: Any other question you want to ask?

Devakinandan dasa: Somebody from BHU wants to ask. Can you unmute him?

Giriraj Swami: BHU?

Devakinandan dasa: Yeah, Varanasi Hindu University. Banaras Hindu University.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, I know that. So, we have a base there?

Devakinandan dasa: Yes, that’s IIT. Kanpur has a base, plus Varanasi also has a base. So, we have two bases.

Giriraj Swami: BHU is famous.

Devakinandan dasa: Nowadays, IIT, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Devakinandan dasa: Yes, Prabhu. Dinanath, you did not unmute Prabhu.

Devotee: Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Maharaja, I wanted to ask that you said in the beginning of the lecture that it is very important for ourselves to taste Krishna consciousness to be able to preach to others also very nicely. So, can you give some ways that we can also taste Krishna consciousness, or from your own life, can you share some instances where you have felt some taste in Krishna consciousness?

Giriraj Swami: Well, I mean, basically, we get up early and our whole morning program is very relishable, in principle. Once, I was staying with Vaisesika Pprabhu at his home in Burlingame, California, which is near the airport. He chose that location for his house specifically because it was near the airport so he could easily go out to the airport to distribute books. So, I stayed over at his place, and in the morning, he did his morning program, and it was intense, I mean, blissful. Then later, after the morning program, we were discussing, at that time, he was preparing to write his book, which has now been published as Our Family Business, but at that stage he was just thinking about it. And he said that one of the points he wanted to make in his book was that our enthusiasm to preach will come from the overflow of our bliss in our morning program or in our spiritual practices.

So yeah, I think it’s natural. If you get up early and follow the morning program, you will develop taste. And if you don’t have it at first, then keep at it. As Srila Rupa Gosvami says in the Upadeśāmṛta, The Nectar of Instruction, syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi. . . Anyway, the idea is that one who is afflicted by the disease of jaundice cannot taste the sweetness of the holy names and qualities and pastimes of Krishna. But the ayurvedic cure for jaundice is sugar candy. But in the diseased condition, that sugar candy tastes bitter. But still, it’s the recommended cure. So, even though it tastes bitter, one still takes it. And as one takes it, one returns to health, and as one gradually recovers one’s health, the sugar candies taste sweeter and sweeter. And then, when one is completely cured, he can taste that sugar candy as it is, sweet like nectar.

So yeah, even if we don’t have taste, we keep taking the medicine and we’ll develop the taste. It’s the medicine. Yeah, here’s the verse.

syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi-sitāpy avidyā-

pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocikā nu

kintv ādarād anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā

svādvī kramād bhavati tad-gada-mūla-hantrī

“The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛṣṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidyā [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root.”

So, that’s the prescription. And kramāt, gradually, it doesn’t happen all of a sudden but gradually. And anudinam means every day, or it could mean all day, but at least every day. Every day, we should chant. And gradually, we’ll be cured of our disease of avidya, and we’ll be able to taste the sweetness of Lord Krishna’s holy name.

Devakinandan dasa: So, Premharinam Prabhu, are you ready now?

Devotee: Yes, Prabhuji, we are ready. We are just taking camera to have darshan of the Deities. Yes, Prabhu.

Devakinandan dasa: Thank you, Maharaja, and we hope that you will give this opportunity again and again. The devotees are looking forward, and of course, your personal visit with you. Thanks to Coronavirus, which is not allowing anybody to travel.

Giriraj Swami: We have had lots of benefits due to the Coronavirus.

Devakinandan dasa: We can get to hear anyone from anywhere.

Devotee: It's perfect. The camera has gone to the altar.

Giriraj Swami: It is on ISKCON Kanpur. I’m seeing. Beautiful.

Devakinandan dasa: Maharaja, we have a separate classroom, that is Pravachan hall.

Devotee: It is another ISKCON Kanpur.

Giriraj Swami: The doors, it looks like Juhu.

Devakinandan dasa: Yes, just like Juhu and the name is Radha-Madhava. All three in one.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, jaya, wonderful. Those are the three main places. Prabhupada said, “Bombay is my office, Vrindavan is my home, and Mayapur is my place of worship.” Wonderful. Gaura Gauranga altar.

Devakinandan dasa: Bhakti Charu Maharaja gave the name to Sita-Rama, Janaki, Vallabha, Lakṣmaṇa, Hanuman.

Giriraj Swami: Oh nice, it’s a distinct name. How did it happen that he gave the name?

Devakinandan dasa: Well, either him or me, we are supposed to give the name. So, I mean, I was there, the priest asked me to give them a name because I take care, so I asked him to do it, so he did.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Nice. It’s like Juhu.

Devakinandan dasa: It had to look like father, Maharaja. Kanpur is an extension of Juhu.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. Nice, looks very opulent. Wow. It looks like Prabhupada’s vyāsāsana is like Juhu also.

Devakinandan dasa: Yeah.

Giriraj Swami: I’m just seeing from a distance but. . .

Devotee: Because of this Corona situation, we have barricades in between, currently.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. Yeah.

Devakinandan dasa: Can everybody see? Premaharinam Prabhu, I cannot see anything. So, I was wondering if everybody can see.

Devotee: Priya Govinda dasa’s camera is taking.

Devakinandan dasa: Okay. Now I can see Prabhupada.

Devotee: Yeah, Prabhupada.

Giriraj Swami: Jaya! Srila Prabhupada. Wonderful.

Devakinandan dasa: It is the courtyard and. . . We have a beautiful courtyard, Maharaja. It looks like Rajasthan.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, it looks huge. Nice.

Devakinandan dasa: It’s five thousand square feet courtyard, five thousand square feet temple hall, and fifteen thousand square feet in deity area and lobby.

Giriraj Swami: Wow. All glories to your service.

Devakinandan dasa: All of your blessings to all devotees.

Devotee: Take outside the garden view. You can show it to Maharaja.

Devakinandan dasa: Yeah, it’s also too late and brahmachari ashram from distance. So, for the last two years, Maharaja, due to come but something or other happened. Sometimes problems.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah.

Devakinandan dasa: We have fifteen acres of land, Maharaja. This is Varuna deva. Prabhu, can you go a little faster?

Giriraj Swami: Yeah. This is making me anxious to come there in person. Not that far from Vrindavan.

Devakinandan dasa: Now it is two and a half hours by expressway.

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful.

Devotee: Looks tall.

Devakinandan dasa: Due to lockdown everything is closed down. Otherwise, this is brahmachari ashram.

Giriraj Swami: It’s a joke, right? Looks like a hotel.

Devakinandan dasa: Behind, commercials come here. This is one side of it.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Okay.

Devotee: Yeah. Okay today it rained a little heavily in the morning here. So, it’s not very clear, Maharaja. Big forgiveness for that.

Giriraj Swami: It looked overcast. Okay. It was good. Good darshan.

Devotee: We pray to Sri Sri Radha-Madhavaji to have your personal association also very soon at ISKCON Kanpur. That will be the fulfillment of our desire and Devakinandan Prabhu’s wonderful service here.

Giriraj Swami: I will be happy as soon as circumstances permit.

Devakinandan dasa: Devanand Prabhu is taking care of all the devotees very nicely, Maharaja. A very nice devotee.

Giriraj Swami: Nice.

Devakinandan dasa: Young boys are joining mostly.

Giriraj Swami: So, how many devotees do you have there?

Devakinandan dasa: Around a hundred almost here.

Giriraj Swami: Wow.

Devakinandan dasa: And a few hundred are in the pipeline.

Giriraj Swami: Good. Nice. Very good.

Devakinandan dasa: All glory to Premaharinam Prabhu and his team.

Devotee: Happy to be able to do some service here.

Devakinandan dasa: We got fifteen acre land, half an hour drive. So, we kept only five-six cows on the property for Lord to get the milk and the rest of the cows we have transferred. Huge goshala we made for 500 cows and the government of UP wants to make our model for UP. Government is helping us.

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful, fantastic.

Devakinandan dasa: I know it’s too late for you, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Yeah, we could end soon. If we are finished then I would suggest that we conclude with Vaishnava praṇāma.

Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord, who are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone. They’re full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

[Prayers]

Devakinandan dasa: We had a meeting in that hall.

Giriraj Swami: Wow.

Devakinandan dasa: Giriraj Swami Maharaja ki jaya! Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Giriraj Swami: What’s the next step?

Devakinandan dasa: It looks like nobody wants to leave. Okay, I have another meeting at ten o’clock. So, I’ll take your leave, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Alright.