SB 3.16.37, 7.9.19, 10.14.8 – Supporting South Africa

Giriraj Swami: I will begin by singing the maṅgala-ācaraṇa prayers and leaving a short kirtan and then we will speak about calamities and protection.

To begin, I will read a purport from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto Three, Chapter Sixteen: “Jaya and Vijaya Cursed by the Sages” Text Thirty-seven

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

When something is arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should not be disturbed by it, even if it appears to be a reverse according to one’s calculations. For example, sometimes we see that a powerful preacher is killed, or sometimes he is put into difficulty, just as Haridāsa Ṭhākura was. He was a great devotee who came into this material world to execute the will of the Lord by preaching the Lord’s glories. But Haridāsa was punished at the hands of the Kazi by being beaten in twenty-two marketplaces. Similarly, Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and Prahlāda Mahārāja was put through so many tribulations. The Pāṇḍavas, who were direct friends of Kṛṣṇa, lost their kingdom, their wife was insulted, and they had to undergo many severe tribulations. Seeing all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be disturbed; one should simply understand that in these matters there must be some plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

COMMENT

So in the midst of these trying circumstances, we have the corona virus pandemic which has affected many devotees, loved ones. And then on top of that, recently we had so much violence in South Africa. So I will repeat this important instruction considering the context in which we find ourselves. 

PURPORT (continued)

Seeing all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be disturbed; one should simply understand that in these matters there must be some plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhāgavatam’s conclusion is that a devotee is never disturbed by such reverses. He accepts even reverse conditions as the grace of the Lord. One who continues to serve the Lord even in reverse conditions is assured that he will go back to Godhead, back to the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

COMMENT

Now these last two sentences in the purport are an indirect reference by Srila Prabhupada to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.8. That verse is quoted in The Nectar of Devotion under the heading “Expecting the Lord’s Mercy,” and in The Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada comments that this should be the guide of all devotees. And basically, Srila Prabhupada summarized it very beautifully in the purport, but I will read that verse because it is so important. This is 10.14.8.

tat te ‘nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo
bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

“My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.”

So the last compound word dāya-bhāk means rightful heir – inheritor. So the devotee earns the right to liberation, to enter the kingdom of God. Jīveta—simply by remaining alive in Krishna consciousness. The acharyas comment that if you just remain alive in Krishna consciousness by following the practices of bhakti-yoga you will earn the right to enter the kingdom of God. So yes, this is exactly what Srila Prabhupada was referring to towards the end of the purport.

PURPORT (continued)

He accepts even reverse conditions as the grace of the Lord. One who continues to serve the Lord even in reverse conditions is assured that he will go back to Godhead, back to the Vaikuṇṭha planets.

COMMENT

Now in such trying circumstances, again trying because of the corona virus and also trying because of recent violence, a devotee will naturally think of protection both for himself and for his loved ones. And how will we get protection? So that question is answered by Prahlada Maharaja in his prayers to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, and I will read that verse and purport so that we know where to find protection. This is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto Seven, Chapter Nine.

TEXT 19

bālasya neha śaraṇaṁ pitarau nṛsiṁha
nārtasya cāgadam udanvati majjato nauḥ
taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihāñjaseṣṭas
tāvad vibho tanu-bhṛtāṁ tvad-upekṣitānām

My Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, O Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and not cared for by You cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies they accept, although perhaps temporarily beneficial, are certainly impermanent. For example, a father and mother cannot protect their child, a physician and medicine cannot relieve a suffering patient, and a boat on the ocean cannot protect a drowning man.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada was so Krishna conscious he always saw things through the eyes of the shastra. And once, I was sitting in his room at the back of Hare Krishna land in Juhu, and he heard a child crying in the distance. And he immediately quoted this verse, that even though the parents want to protect the child they are not able to do so. The child was crying; he was in some sort of misery or distress. But in spite of the presence of the parents and the parents’ desires to protect the child, the child was crying.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Through parental care, through remedies for different kinds of disease, and through means of protection on the water, in the air and on land, there is always an endeavor for relief from various kinds of suffering in the material world, but none of them are guaranteed measures for protection. They may be beneficial temporarily, but they afford no permanent benefit. Despite the presence of a father and mother, a child cannot be protected from accidental death, disease and various other miseries. No one can help, including the parents. Ultimately the shelter is the Lord, and one who takes shelter of the Lord is protected. This is guaranteed. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.31), kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” Therefore, unless one is protected by the mercy of the Lord, no remedial measure can act effectively. One should consequently depend fully on the causeless mercy of the Lord. Although as a matter of routine duty one must of course accept other remedial measures, 

COMMENT

In other words, it is not that we don’t take medicine, Srila Prabhupada’s medicine. 

PURPORT (continued)

Although as a matter of routine duty one must of course accept other remedial measures, no one can protect one who is neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

COMMENT

This is the main point.

PURPORT (continued)

In this material world, everyone is trying to counteract the onslaught of material nature, but everyone is ultimately fully controlled by material nature. Therefore even though so-called philosophers and scientists try to surmount the onslaught of material nature, they have not been able to do so. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (13.9) that the real sufferings of the material world are four — janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi (birth, death, old age and disease).

COMMENT

Now, this phrase—janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam—comes in those verses in the Thirteenth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā in which Krishna describes the process of knowledge. So being mindful of these four miseries, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam, is part of the process of knowledge. And at the end of these verses, Krishna says that anything else He declares is ignorance.

So we should be aware of these miseries. And doing so will serve as an impetus to us to get out of this miserable, temporary world. duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam—Krishna says duḥkhālayam—a place of misery, aśāśvatam—and temporary. As Prabhupada says, we should not try to make the deuka-lion place of misery into a suka-lion, a place of happiness, because you can’t. We can experience happiness in Krishna consciousness, but not by trying to exploit the resources of material nature.

PURPORT (continued)

In the history of the world, no one has been successful in conquering these miseries imposed by material nature. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ.

COMMENT

Gītā 3.27.

PURPORT (continued)

Nature (prakṛti) is so strong that no one can overcome her stringent laws. So-called scientists, philosophers, religionists, and politicians should therefore conclude that they cannot offer facilities to the people in general.

COMMENT

And we saw this during the violence. Even the government tried, I suppose, as best as they could but they cannot offer facilities to the people in general. 

PURPORT (continued)

They should make vigorous propaganda to awaken the populace and raise them to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Our humble attempt to propagate the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world is the only remedy that can bring about a peaceful and happy life. We can never be happy without the mercy of the Supreme Lord (tvad-upekṣitānām).

COMMENT

That means being neglected by the Supreme Lord.

PURPORT (continued)

If we keep displeasing our supreme father, we shall never be happy within this material world, in either the upper or lower planetary systems.

COMMENT

So my dear devotees, in all circumstances we must take shelter of the Lord and depend on the Lord’s mercy, because only the Lord’s protection is guaranteed. Other means of protection may be temporarily beneficial or maybe not, but the Lord’s protection is guaranteed. And so we take shelter of Him in the form of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, in the form of Sri Gaura Hari, in the form of Sri Sri Radha Radhanatha, in the form of Giri Govardhana, and depend on His mercy for protection, and we will be protected.

Hare Krishna.

So now, we can take questions and comments. 

Devotee: Yes, Guru Maharaja. Thank you. I see hands are already raising. Hadi Mansour, if you could unmute and ask a question.

Giriraj Swami: Hadi is in Iran. 

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Thank you very much for your lecture, thank you very much. Actually I wanted to explain and my condition in Iran and which when you said about take shelter of Krishna, I wanted to ask a question. As you know, nowadays in Iran, situation and life condition in Iran so awful; everything is very bad and nothing is under control and everything is bad. And all the time I have this fear to catch by police. 

Giriraj Swami: What fear do you have all the time?

Devotee: It is not real, it is an illusion. I have this illusion with myself, I feel unsafe. I always have this fear with myself and sometimes I can take shelter of Krishna, but sometimes I say to myself that maybe it is my karma to go to prison and I don’t know how to tolerate prison, for example. I don’t know what to do with this illusion. 

Giriraj Swami: Well, I suggest that you avoid going to prison. We are already in the prison of material existence but we don’t want to go into a prison within the prison. And as Srila Prabhupada wrote in the purport one must of course accept other remedial measures. But you said you are afraid of getting caught by the police; afraid of getting caught by the police for what reason? 

Devotee: Because being Krishna conscious, actually being something different from government thinking, is not acceptable in Iran. Nowadays, everything is worse than before so I try to hide everything to show that I am Krishna conscious, but sometimes you cannot hide it. Sometimes people understand you are different from the others.

Giriraj Swami: Well I am sure all the other devotees who are present will pray for you.

Devotee: I thank you, but I wanted to say that what to do; how to solve my illusion.

Giriraj Swami: Well I am not sure what your illusion is.

Devotee: Hearing; my fear is not real, I want to say that it is not exactly real based on situation. My fear is more than situation. I want to say that my fear is overdosed.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. I suggest attentive chanting; take shelter of the holy name and the holy name ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam, it will relieve you of your excessive fear.

Devotee: Oh thank you, Maharaja. Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. 

Devotee: Thank you Hadi. We have another hand up but before that there was a question in the chat Guru Maharaja from Smita Krishna Prabhu. Maybe Smita Krishna Prabhu tried to ask the question live instead of me reading but he has been having some internet difficulties. But we could try; Smita Krishna Prabhu you could try. 

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you so much for your wonderful association we have been having, listening to your classes over the last few days also. So thank you for all your inspiration, support, and care. Maharaja, I am asking in the chat, I will just read it. So with reference to the phrase that you mentioned “one does not avoid remedial measures” will that include devotees like in our situation in the country, making efforts to protect their property, their family from criminals? Because being like Prahlada Maharaja is a very advanced stage of just surrendering in that way, so the remedial measures, practical things like that should be done.

Giriraj Swami: Yes. One of course, must accept remedial measures and that would include what you mentioned about protecting your property. You mentioned Prahlada Maharaja, of course he was advanced, but Srila Prabhupada also says that Prahlada Maharaja had no choice, whereas we may have a choice and so we can make efforts to protect ourselves. Prahlada didn’t have that option.

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

Devotee: And Malika Mataji has raised a hand. Malika Mataji

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Maharaja, you were reading in the purport that how one is controlled by the material nature. So does that mean that anxiety has caused the other living entities are controlled by material nature also, or is it their minute independence that they use to cause anxieties to other living entities?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, a living entity has minute independence or free will, and one of the injunctions in The Nectar of Devotion is that one should not cause any painful action in the mind of any living entity. So that implies that we have the choice and that we should decide to act in such a way that we don’t cause any painful action in the mind of any living entity. And if someone does cause us anxiety, of course in a way, no one can force us to feel anxiety or misery, but still Srila Prabhupada on occasion gave the explanation that in the past we may have done something for which we deserve to be punished by that other person causing us to stress. So if we can avoid such situations, well and good, but we cannot always avoid them. And it is similar to the verse that we read; 10.14.8—tat te ‘nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo—that we just tolerate; tolerate the reactions that are coming to us and remain fixed in devotional service. Often Srila Prabhupada said we have to tolerate what can we do. He said that in Juhu when we were under so much attack—we have to tolerate what can we do.

Devotee: Thank you Malika Mataji. We have Jarikanda Sevaki who would like to ask a question. Jarikanda, if you could unmute and share your video.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Actually it is me, Madhavi 

Giriraj Swami: In your daughter’s name, okay that is all right.

Devotee: We are together. Maharaja, I was thinking that this whole spiritual process is based on the understanding that we are eternal spirit souls, and not the body that we live in our house in for this particular lifetime. So may I ask you to guide us on how we come to that spirituality. Of course it is the whole bhakti process but from your experience, so that we can rise above being entrapped within wanting to protect the body. Because I know it is said that Krishna, He does protect; but He can choose to protect the soul and not the body.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the body, in the case of a devotee, is used for Krishna’s service. In one letter Srila Prabhupada wrote me when I was sick, he said that your body is very valuable because it is engaged in Krishna’s service, and therefore you should take care of it. Of course he did include that with spiritual advice, but what he wrote was, “If you are feeling tired you may take rest, your body is very valuable it is dedicated to Krishna so you must take care of the body very carefully, the best medicine is to rest and chant the Hare Krishna mantra along with the doctor’s prescription. The Hare Krishna mantra is bhavauosadhi, the panacea for all material disease.” 

So Srila Prabhupada has demonstrated different moods in relation to the body like during the war between India and Pakistan in 1971. One reporter asked Srila Prabhupada, “What if Yahya Khan came and dropped the bomb on you?” And Prabhupada replied, “I would think that Krishna in the form of Yahya Khan has come to take me.” That was one type of response, but another time he was asked a similar question, if he was attacked would he defend himself? And Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, why should I let some nonsense harm Krishna’s devotee?” 

And again, the two situations may be related to how much control one has in the situation. If Yahya Khan drops a bomb we might not have that much control, so we just have to surrender and see it as Krishna’s will. But if someone attacks us and we can defend ourselves, not because we identify with the body but because we see the body as Krishna’s property to be engaged in Krishna’s service, and we want to take care of Krishna’s property for Him, then we should. And definitely in the present circumstances, as far as possible, we should protect our lives, our bodies, our property because they are meant for Krishna’s service. Does that answer your question?

Devotee: Yes, it really does Maharaja. Thank you so much, because it shows us that we are in charge of protecting that body. Thank you. Because of the yukta-vairāgya principle used in the service of Krishna. Thank you Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: Exactly. Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Thank you Mataji. We have a hand raised from Shakshi Lakhkyani. Please unmute and ask your question.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my most humble obeisances. Guru Maharaja, my question was that you mentioned that one who is neglected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be protected in any way. Who exactly is neglected by Krishna?

Giriraj Swami: Well, this is referring to non-devotees basically. It is referring to non-devotees who identify with the body. It doesn’t apply to devotees; it applies to non-devotees.

Devotee: But Guru Maharaja, Krishna is equal to everyone.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, but the Bhagavad-gītā, Krishna says yes that He is equal to everyone. But one who serves Him, is in Him and He is with that devotee. And there are many beautiful verses in the ninth Canto in relation to Maharaja Ambrish and Durvasa Muni, in which Krishna proclaims His love, and you could say partiality to His devotees. He is equal but still he is partial. He is equal in the sense that he gives everyone the chance to approach him; he doesn’t exclude anyone from the opportunity of approaching him. ye yathā māṁ prapadyante—As you surrender to Krishna, Krishna reciprocates. So yes, and I see in the chat Bhagavad-gītā 9.29, so I will read that.

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

TRANSLATION

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.

PURPORT

One may question here that if Kṛṣṇa is equal to everyone and no one is His special friend, then why does He take a special interest in the devotees who are always engaged in His transcendental service? But this is not discrimination; it is natural. Any man in this material world may be very charitably disposed, yet he has a special interest in his own children.

Devotee: Thank you so much Guru Maharaja. Hare Krishna. 

Giriraj Swami: And there is a very nice comment in the chat that Srila Prabhupada gave the example with the sun. The sun is shining for everyone but if someone wants to close the windows and hide in the closet, that person won’t get the benefit of the sun; it is the same idea.

Devotee: Thank you so much Guru Maharaja. Hare Krishna.

Giriraj Swami: Thanks too, Korostova for that example from Srila Prabhupada. 

Devotee: Thank you Korostova for that. We have another question from Pundarika Vidyanidhi Prabhu that was mistakenly sent to me only in the chat. But Pundarika Prabhu, would you like to unmute and share your question?

Devotee: Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja. I have this question. The devotees and the general populous have the same anxiety and fear. Are we to understand that we are all faced with this as collective karma? How is it that the devotees and the general populous are served in the same manner?

Giriraj Swami: Like the devotees what?

Devotee: How is it that the devotees and the general population here are served the same anxiety and fear in the same manner?

Giriraj Swami: I guess you could say there is some collective karma at work, but the devotees will not experience the situation in the same way as the non-devotees. Because the devotees first of all do not identify with the body, and second of all they identify themselves as Krishna’s eternal servants who are Krishna’s property. So again, they may take care of themselves in the mood of yukta-vairāgya, seeing their body and other property as Krishna’s energy which is meant to be used in Krishna’s service. And so they want to protect it for the sake of Krishna’s service.

Now that being said, in Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s commentary on Srila Rupa Gosvami’s definition of pure devotional service, he comments on the suffix “ita” in the in the very first word,

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

So anya means other and bhilas means desire. So Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura said why does Rupa Gosvami add the suffix “ita” why doesn’t he just say anya bhilas—without any other desire? And Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that the suffix “ita” means that under ordinary circumstances the devotee has no other desire. In other words, he engages in devotional service only for the sake of Krishna’s pleasure. But the suffix “ita” refers to extraordinary circumstances and he gives the example, if a devotee is threatened by death. Someone comes to attack a devotee with deadly weapons; in such an extreme situation the devotee may pray for protection for his body and that is not a violation of the definition of pure devotional service. That is the significance of “ita” anyābhilāṣitā. But under ordinary circumstances a devotee does not engage in devotional service for the benefit of the body, and he doesn’t pray for the benefit of the body. But in an extreme circumstance he may and that is not a violation of the principle of pure devotional service.

Hare Krishna.

Devotee: Thank you, Pundarika Prabhu. We have a question from Malati dasi. You can unmute Malati.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to you. Guru Maharaja, if karma plays such a big role in our life for our sufferings or presently if we commit some offenses we suffer. So then, what is the position of the prayers in our lives because when we are going through we tell so many devotees to pray for us. So what is the position, what happens? Does the suffering lessen in our life or what happens Guru Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: You are saying that karma plays a role?

Devotee: Yes. Guru Maharaja, you said now in the lecture that when you have some karma you have some sufferings; so if we are suffering due to our karmas, I have to suffer as it is till my karma diminish fully. So even if I pray or other devotees are praying for me, then what is the position of that prayer? So it is better to just tolerate and just sit and wait for the time to come till we are finished with our karmas. So prayers play what role? Actually, I am asking this question because guru Maharaja, I have suffered when my son was not keeping well from eight months to say eleven years. I was suffering like anything day in and day out, so I told so many devotees to pray for me and I myself was praying; take my son away because it is hampering my devotional service or just make the situation a little better so that I can chant my rounds without anxiety. But nothing worked till the time came that my son was okay after the years. So I just want to know, does prayer really help you or what happens actually?

Giriraj Swami: Prayers do help. In fact, there have been experiments; controlled scientific experiments with patients suffering from disease who had people praying for them one group and the other group did not have people praying for them. And they didn’t know what group they were in; they didn’t know if people were praying for them or not. But the ones who had people praying for them they recovered better, they got better faster and that is even ordinary people. So what to speak of devotees who are being cared for by Krishna personally. So if people are praying to Krishna to help that devotee then definitely Krishna will be inclined to hear the prayers of His devotees. But again our prayer should be, and I think in your case it was, it should be for the sake of devotional service; not that you wanted relief for your sense gratification but you wanted relief so that you could do better service. 

Devotee: Thank you so much.

Devotee: Thank you Malati. Maharaja, that was such a thoughtful question. I think it was very beneficial, the answer was very beneficial to all the devotees.

Devotees, anyone else has a question or we could move on to the next part of the program. Okay, I was just thinking when Hadi was speaking and Smita Krishna Prabhu also put a brief comment as she was expressing her own challenges and anxieties. And I was just thinking, from our perspective in South Africa we are in so much of anxiety based on some discrimination or persecution of our material body. But at least in my conscious lifetime in South Africa, I have never had the anxiety of being persecuted or being discriminated because of my devotion to Krishna. But that is what she is going through and how much more severe that must feel. So thank you Hadi for your commitment and dedication and bravery. I think it is a wonderful lesson and example for us to aspire to. Thank you very much for that.

Giriraj Swami: She does a lot of prasāda distribution.

Devotee: Thank you very much for your comments. It makes me so happy and thank you very much. And actually, it is because of Guru Maharaja’s mercy, I can distribute prasādam here in this situation and it is like a magic for sure.

Devotee: That is wonderful. Thank you so much Guru Maharaja. Your presentation and the discussion was just so enlightening and so comforting and reassuring and giving us some practical direction. Thank you so much.

Devotee: Guru Maharaja, there was a question in the in the chat box that I thought would have been nice to answer. I am not sure if you would like to address that question, Guru Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: What is the question?

Devotee: It is a question that says who will continue to preach in Kali-yuga if all devotees leave this material world and go back to Godhead, to Goloka Vrindavan?

Giriraj Swami: There will always be new devotees. We were actually at the ārati Kumbh Mela with Srila Prabhupada, and one gentleman asked him what will happen to the world if everyone becomes Krishna conscious? And Srila Prabhupada replied that, that will never be the case, the problem is that not enough people are becoming Krishna conscious. And he said it is like asking, if everyone becomes rich who will be the chauffeur? It is never going to happen that everyone becomes rich, there will always be people to drive the cars.

If we are able to get out well and good, as Srila Prabhupada said, as someone paraphrased, I think Campakalata Mataji paraphrased that Prabhupada said that the material world is like a stool house so just do your business and get out. And what is our business? Our business is to be Krishna conscious and share Krishna consciousness with others. So yes, there will always be devotees who can carry on the mission.

Devotee: Thank you very much Guru Maharaja. It seems like the devotees don’t want to let you go but I anticipate, I imagine that you do have other important services to attend to.

Giriraj Swami: I have a phone call with Vaisesika Prabhu in ten minutes. If everyone wants, we could chant around together or else we can wind up and devotees carry on with their other service.

[Chanting]

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna my dear devotees. I was very happy to chant sunjapa with you. It was a nice way to conclude today’s meeting. As I mentioned, in about one minute I have a Zoom meeting with Vaisesika Prabhu and Nirakula Mataji so I will have to take your leave. But it was really wonderful spending time together with you and discussing Krishna consciousness and a chanting japa. Hare Krishna. 

Devotee: Thank you Guru Maharaja. Hare Krishna.