Srila Prabhupada Smaran-utsava and International Online Quiz Contest

Giriraj Swami: So, My Dear Devotees, I will speak about “Meeting my perfect master.” 

In my youth I aspired to attain perfect happiness. And soon I realized such happiness could not be achieved materially, but only spiritually. And through reading spiritual books I came to understand that to achieve spiritual perfection I needed a guru. In fact, I read that I didn’t even have to choose the guru, he was already there. All I had to do was find him. So, whenever I heard about a guru anywhere, even a thousand miles away, I would go to meet him. One teacher I met was a Zen master, supposedly enlightened and certified by another enlightened master in Japan. I had read a book he had written, and when I heard he was holding a three-day retreat at his ashram at Rochester, New York, I went. Upon my arrival, I found that his students were not very happy. But I thought, anyway, they are just students, let me meet the master. During the retreat he held meditation sessions in which everyone had to sit up straight and look at the wall, concentrating on some object he would give us. The master walked around with a stick, and if he thought any of us was falling asleep, or that someone’s mind was wondering, he would hit the offender. After one such session, some of his students asked him about his recently having become angry. “Yes, it is true,” he said. “I lost my temper, I shouldn’t have.” I started to doubt whether he was my guru. Still, I had read that a Zen master might appear ordinary, and that one might not recognize him. So, I thought maybe this is part of it. But my doubt remained. Later, he came to Boston, near Brandeis University where I was studying. After his talk and demonstration, someone in the audience asked him about Vedanta. “I have enough trouble keeping up with Zen!” he answered. “How do you expect me to know about Vedanta?” My previous doubt was confirmed. He is not my perfect master.

Then, a hatha-yogi came to Brandeis to give a lecture. He had long hair, and a beard and flowing robes. He said that by yoga, you can attain complete mastery over your bodily functions, including the movements of the bowels. You can actually command your intestines: “Ascending colon advance, transfers colon advance, descending colon advance, and finally rectum pass.”

I was really looking for a guru, so I thought anyway, maybe … After the lecture, I tried to meet the Swami, but he was leaving for the airport. I wanted to ride with him in his car, but there was no room. So, I rode with some of his students. On the way they discussed the various foods they missed since they had joined the ashram. So, I started to have some doubts. But then I thought, anyway, they are just the students. Their Master maybe on a much higher level. When we arrived at the airport, I beheld the Swami. There he was, long flowing hair, beard, draping orange robes, a flower in his hair, a twinkle in his eyes. The very picture of Indian Spirituality. Then I saw him tightly embracing his women disciples. And I knew, he is not my perfect master. I have to keep looking.

Next, I heard of an “enlightened” psychology professor who was teaching in Antioch College in Ohio, which was known as a progressive University. And I wanted to meet him immediately. Ready to do anything to find my guru, I got in my car and drove the seven hundred miles. When I arrived with great anticipation and eagerness, I searched out the professor’s office, and enquired about him from his secretary. “He is playing golf,” she informed me. “Playing golf?” I asked incredulously. I thought he was supposed to be enlightened. “That is his Zen,” she replied. Oh no! I thought. Playing golf, he is not my perfect master.

Although I was disappointed about the professor, the Antioch campus was full of people interested in spiritual life. And while I was there, I spoke with some of them. Some students in the student union told me about a guru who had recently visited the campus. “The guru is in the heart,” he had said, “where he sits on a lotus flower, you can actually see him and speak with him!” Wow! I thought. That sounds attractive. That night I really tried to focus on my heart. And indeed, I got a definite impression that there was a divine personality there with whom I can have a sublime personal relationship. And he seemed just about to speak. I was very excited. And I became eager to meet him.

Back at Brandeis, one of my psychology professors invited J. Krishna Murti to speak. I attended the lecture and during the break I told my professor that I wanted to meet Krishna Murti. “Why?” my professor asked. “I may want him as my guru,” I replied. “Oh! He doesn’t accept disciples,” my professor said. He doesn’t even touch money. My professor was impressed, but I wasn’t. I thought If he is actually able to help people, why should he refuse, just to be renounced? He is not my perfect master.

I kept searching. I already had the idea that you don’t have to choose your guru, that he is already there. I even had a mental picture of what he looked like. And he didn’t have hair. All the Swamis and yogis I had encountered had long hair and beards. So, I was starting to despair. How am I ever going to meet my guru.

Then, one day I saw a poster on campus: Lecture, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Swami Bhaktivedanta Vedanta. My friends and I were supposed to go to the movies that night. But I wanted to attend the lecture instead. When I suggested that however, one friend in particular got really upset. “Why can’t you be normal like other people,” she complained. “All you want to do is see swamis and yogis. And the argument became so intense that I decided not to go. I didn’t want to disappoint my friends, so I tried to go along with their idea. But something inside me was impelling me to go to the lecture. Finally I said, “Ok, let us go to a later show. But first I have to go to the lecture by the Swami. I promise, he will be the last one I go to see.” 

My friends reluctantly came along, but because we had been arguing, we arrived at the auditorium late and missed the lecture. Entering the auditorium, I beheld an elderly Indian gentleman sitting on a cushion on stage. Swami Bhaktivedanta. To the side a young devotee Satsvarupa dasa, sang into a microphone. And other devotees were dancing in a circle around the guru. Satsvarupa was singing right into the microphone and the sound was reverberating off the bare brick walls. One by one students from the audience jumped onto the stage and joined in. I also felt like going up, but I knew my friends wouldn’t approve. That would have been too much for them. More students were jumping up, climbing on the stage, and joining the circle, dancing.

I kept trying to focus my eyes on the Swami, but I couldn’t. His effulgence was too great. When the kirtan ended one of the devotees announced that they needed a lift to Harvard Square or to Boston. As my friends and I were still going to the movie and it was at Harvard Square, I invited the devotees to ride with us. And everyone piled into my station wagon. I was the driver and also in front were two ladies and the back seat were three or four devotees and in the rear compartment were my friends and I don’t even know how many more. I don’t think we could have fit anyone else. 

Satsvarupa was squeezed in the rear with my best friend, Gary. Because of our impersonal readings, my friend was saying that ultimately everything was void. And Satsvarupa was saying there is no void in the creation of God. My friend kept insisting, “Everything is ultimately void.” I was overhearing them from the front, and puffed up as I was, I thought, Oh, how silly they are arguing over this. I thought I had it all figured out. So, I turned to the back and announced something I had read in some Zen book. “It is not void, and it is not, not void. But to give it a name we call it the void.” I thought I had resolved the controversy. But still they kept arguing. One of the ladies upfront with me was Jahnava. I have been trying to understand all the different paths and philosophies. So, I asked her about Zen. “This world seems real,” she said, “But it is illusory, like images on a movie screen. Now if you withdraw your consciousness from the screen, you will find there is a beam of light.” I thought, this is the best explanation I have ever heard, even better than the Zen books. “And if you keep following that beam of light back,” she continued, “You come to a point.” I thought, Wow! This is getting to the void. But then she said,” “But behind that point is a projector, and behind the projector there is a person.” Then I thought, this philosophy encompasses everything that Zen does and more. 

Then I asked her about Yogananda, she dismissed him out of hand. “Oh, he is just a shopkeeper. Whatever you want he keeps in stock. You want yoga, he will give you that. Whatever you ask for, he pulls off the shelf.” Then she said, “At his ashram in California, he has a Gandhi peace memorial. But Gandhi was not a worker for world peace. He was a politician who wanted to drive the British out of India. She just dismissed him—- he doesn’t even know who Gandhi is. She is speaking with authority, I thought. And I sensed that it couldn’t all be coming from her. How was it possible for a girl of only twenty or so have so much knowledge, and speak with such authority. But she did have authority and I knew it wasn’t coming from her. Then I thought, this must be coming from her teacher. I want to meet him.

When we got to Harvard Square, I let the devotees out. But as I was driving away, I realized, I didn’t know how to get in touch with them. How would I meet the guru? I immediately stopped the car, at the center of Harvard Square, jumped out and ran after them. I caught up to one, Patita Pavan. When he stopped, he turned his head, pointed to the crowd around us and said, ”You see these people? They are all sleep walkers. They don’t know what they are doing or why. They are just conforming.” His words were so intriguing and deep, I wanted to hear more. 

Suddenly I became aware of the honking of horns all around us. I left my car in the middle of the roundabout and the traffic at Harvard Square was backed up. The honking kept getting louder. “I want to meet the Swami!” I said, “Quick, give me the address?” “Come at seven.” He said, “tomorrow night,” I could hardly wait.

The next evening when I arrived, the small storefront temple was packed with young people. Srila Prabhupada was sitting on a cushion at the far end. The walls were decorated with exotic paintings and the aroma of incense filled the air. When he began speaking, I had difficulty understanding what he was saying. He had a thick Bengali accent and the philosophy was new to me. But I did hear him say that out of many thousands of men, one would seek perfection. That is me … I thought. He is talking about me.

After the lecture, Srila Prabhupada called for questions. Someone asked, “Since everything comes from God, or Krishna, does maya also come from Krishna?” Prabhupada replied that everything comes from Krishna, just like everything comes from the sun. The cloud also comes from the sun, although it covers our vision of the sun. But the sun is never covered by the cloud, only our vision is covered. 

I was burning to ask my question. “There are so many Swamis and yogis,” I began, “And each recommends a different process of self-realization. And each says that his is the best. So how do I know, which is actually best?” Prabhupada responded, “What is your goal? You want to serve God or do you want to become God?” How brilliant! How perfect! I was asking about the means, but to determine the best means we must first establish the end, the goal! “When you seek after God, God who is situated within your heart will give you all facilities. But if you want to become God, you will be cheated! You are cheating yourself. How can you become God? You are trying to become God and now you became a dog! God cannot become a Dog—- God is always God. The Mayavadi philosopher says that, “I am God!” But by maya, I am thinking I am not God. So, by meditation I shall become God. But that means He is under the punishment of maya? God has come under the influence of maya? How is that? God is great. If He is under the influence of maya, then maya becomes greater than God! So, the idea is that as long as we shall continue this hallucination that I am God, there is no question of getting the favor of God. Then you do your own business and try to find yourself whether you are God or something else. As soon as I think I am God, I am cheating myself. Who will help you? That is going on.

Everyone is thinking, I am God. So, what are you thinking? You are trying to become God, what is your idea? Or are you thinking there is no God?” “I am thinking that there is God.” I replied. “There is God, you are thinking like that?” I knew I couldn’t cheat him so I replied, “Yes, but I can see that I was trying to become God.” “So, you were trying to become God! That means you are not God, is it not? How you became “not” God? God is so great that He never becomes ”not” God. So, your conclusion should be that, I am not that God who is great. I am a different God who becomes sometimes ”not” God. Therefore, you are a different God from that God who is great. Is it not? This is a fact. Because you are a part and parcel of God, you are minute God. Therefore, you have the potency of becoming ”not” God. Just like a fire and a spark of the fire. A spark when it is in the fire is bright fire, but as soon as it goes out of the fire it becomes extinguished. But the big fire never becomes extinguished. Similarly, you are not that big fire. You are that small spark. You have fallen down, therefore you are not God. Now you have to raise yourself again to the fire and you will again be a blazing spark. So, that is the difference, that is stated in the Vedic literature, every living entity is Brahman, but the Supreme Brahman is Krishna. He never becomes “not” God. We see in Krishna’s life, when He was a child on the lap of his mother, He was God. So many demons were killed, He didn’t have to meditate to become God. While he was playing, he was God. And when he was fighting on the battle field of Kurukshetra, He was God. That is God, not that sometimes “not” God and sometimes God, that is not God. God is always God, in any circumstance. That is God!” 

As Srila Prabhupada was speaking, I got the clear impression that he knew everything about me. That he was seeing right into me, into my apartment, into my bathroom. Right to the wall on which I had pasted a sign I had inscribed in beautiful ornate lettering, “You are God.” My search was over. I offered my obeisances. I had found my perfect master!

The devotees put their hands on the floor and offered obeisances. I also kept my head on the floor and surrendered for a long time. I felt so glad. I had finally found my perfect master and wanted to surrender fully. At the same time, I also felt shamed and humiliated—- my abominable desire to become God had been exposed. Everyone there knew I had wanted to become God. After sometime, I heard sounds indicating that devotees were bringing plates of food, prasāda to their guests. Something inside prompted me to look up, I expected everyone would be glaring at me, but no. People were blissfully taking prasāda and when they saw me get up, they simply smiled. Moments earlier when a devotee had offered Prabhupada a large plate of prasāda, he had responded “I am not God, I cannot eat so much.”

The prasāda I was given looked just like everything else in the temple—- colorful, attractive, and variegated. Because of macrobiotics and other speculations, I never expected a feast. Where to begin? I picked up what must have been a cauliflower pakorā. Put it in my mouth, bit into it, and felt an explosion of taste. One by one I sampled the preparations—- vada, sweet rice, every taste new, incomparable. I thought everything was perfect, the guru, the prasāda, the chanting. I loved the chanting. The devotees had a sign with the Hare Krishna mantra written in the Indian style lettering. During the kirtan, I was looking at the letters on the sign. And they started to move, dissolve, form and unform themselves. These were the signs I had been looking for. And everything indicated, this was it! 

From the time Srila Prabhupada answered and I bowed my head, I surrendered. From that first meeting, my whole life’s purpose became to bring people to meet Srila Prabhupada. And I was able to do that for many years. But when he passed away, I wondered, what will be my service now? My whole service had been to bring people to Srila Prabhupada. Now I understand that Srila Prabhupada is always present, and that by speaking of him, hearing about him, remembering him, and most significantly by studying his books and following his instructions, by practicing and preaching Krishna consciousness, we can experience his presence. 

So, I can continue doing what I was doing when Srila Prabhupada was personally present, introducing souls to him, which is what I feel most natural, doing. Because I know that somehow or other if someone comes in touch with Srila Prabhupada, his life will be successful. 

So, if there is time, and it won’t take very long, I would like to relate one other incident that took place with Srila Prabhupada when I first met him in Boston, which gives some insight into his character and into why I surrendered to him? 

From the time Srila Prabhupada answered my question and I bowed my head, I surrendered. I came to the temple every night. Srila Prabhupada would speak alternately in the temple and some University. Since the devotees didn’t have a car, they asked me to drive Srila Prabhupada, and I agreed. One night we were to go to Harvard Divinity School, at the most prestigious University, in the United States. When it was time to go, as I stood to leave the room, I realized that all my questions had been answered. Still as we were about to get into the car, one question came to mind. Sitting with Srila Prabhupada in the front seat, I ventured, “What is it like to be with Krishna?” “Inconceivable!” he replied. Though afterwards one devotee said that he had answered, “That is confidential.” 

At the hall, Srila Prabhupada took his place and began to speak. And I was beginning to understand a little more of what he was saying. When he asked for questions, many hands shot up. One boy stood and gave a long introduction before finally asking, “What can chanting “Hare Krishna” actually do for people? We should really do something to improve their lives? Like the Russian revolution.” Srila Prabhupada replied, “You are speaking of the Russian revolution? Now, after the revolution, are the people in Russia happy?” The boy looked down. “No.” Prabhupada said, “Then, what was the use? And even if things get better for some time, again, they will get worse.” Another student asked, “Could you repeat anything? Say count from one to ten again and again. And it would have the same affect?” “Well,” Srila Prabhupada said,” You can try counting and when you get tired of counting, you can try chanting!” The students laughed. 

Another student questioned, “Are you always happy?” “If I tell you falsely that I am happy,” Prabhupada responded, “Will you believe me?” “What?” the student asked. “I said”, Srila Prabhupada replied emphatically, “If I tell you falsely that I am happy, will you believe me?” “No!” the student answered. “Then what is the use of the question?” tThe students were stunned! One after another without a moment’s hesitation Srila Prabhupada answered every question perfectly. Here were the most brilliant students in the most prestigious University in America stunned and charmed by Srila Prabhupada. Eventually Srila Prabhupada stood up and left. In a state of euphoria, I wondered among the students, wanting to hear what they were saying. When suddenly, Jadurani came running. “So,” she said affectionately imitating Prabhupada’s accent, “Where is the driver?” Suddenly, I remembered that I was supposed to drive Srila Prabhupada. And he was waiting. I ran to the car and opened the door. Srila Prabhupada got in the front seat and the devotees got in the back. But, by then it was dark and I didn’t really now the way. Somehow, I managed to find my way in the daylight. But how to find it now? I had some idea of the direction so I began, but after sometime the streets began to look less and less familiar. I started to have a sinking feeling that we were hopelessly lost. I couldn’t hide it any longer, I stopped the car, turned around and asked the devotees, “Does anyone know the way back?” Nobody did. “Is not the driver supposed to know the way?” said Srila Prabhupada. We asked directions and gradually found our way back. As soon as Srila Prabhupada left the car, I jumped out and ran up to him. “Srila Prabhupada, I am sorry I got us lost.” With a voice full of love and compassion he replied, “That is all right.”

From what I had seen at Harvard Divinity School, he could have easily demolished me for my lapse. But he didn’t. He wasn’t angry. He was kind to me. And I was convinced that I had found my perfect master!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

So, now if there is time, we can take questions or comments.

Madan Sunder dasa: Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna, Maharaja. Thank you so much for sharing these memories. We have heard it, I have read it also, but hearing it from you personally was as if we were re-living those moments. If I may request you, one of the favorite pastimes I really love in particularly from your journey from America to India is your halt at Cairo. If I am correct. And, you were a brahmachari then, and that is how I relate to that incident where you were so steadfast, you write about it in your book, I will Build You a Temple. There also in the very first chapter where Prabhupada has said, “Be Krishna conscious,” so you were so determined to be Krishna conscious all through and chant loudly. And then something very phenomenal happened in that place when your plane landed. And how enthusiastically you got totally absorbed, totally oblivious of what was happening around in that airport, and that country at that time, maybe if you so like can you please share that? And any lessons from that verse, of brahmacharis to remain absorbed regardless of what is happening outside? 

Giriraj Swami: Alright, well, Srila Prabhupada announced that he was going to return to India to try to revive the Krishna consciousness there. And pretty much everyone wanted to join him. And Prabhupada asked that each of the fourteen or so temples in America send the best man they could spare. Generally, the second in command to join him. And I was chosen to go from Boston. So, that October I was on my way to India. And in Brussels, I met three of Prabhupada’s earliest and most prominent disciples, Yamuna, Shyamasundara, and Shyamasundara’s wife, Malati, with their two year old daughter Sarasvati., Gurudas, Yamuna’s husband, whom I had met earlier in Boston was also with them. He had arranged a cheap flight on a small airline. And that evening eleven of us without Shyamasundara who stayed behind to escort four more devotees from America the following day, boarded an old converted dual propeller cargo plane, bound for Bombay with a stop in Cairo.

In my mood of single-minded Krishna Consciousness, I was practically oblivious to things around me. I wanted to avoid maya, anything that could distract me from Krishna. And didn’t pay much heed to anything that didn’t relate to my service. I was focused on chanting and hearing every word of the Hare Krishna mantra. And I am always thinking about Krishna and never forgetting Him. I heard that Prabhupada had said that if you had troubling hearing, you should chant loudly. And sometimes to avoid any possible lethargy while chanting I would jump up and down. There was some anxiety in the group about how people in Egypt might react. But I was fixed.

There was unrest in Cairo, President Gamal Abdel Nasser had recently died. And when we landed, we were met at the tarmac by soldiers, and armed security guards with bandoliers of bullets strapped across their chest, and machine guns slung around their shoulders. As we de-planed they followed us with their machine guns. Stepping down the mobile stairway Yamuna noticed the guards shifting their aim behind her. The muzzles of their guns pointing up and then down. And when she turned to see what they were aiming at, there I was behind her, jumping up and down as I chanted. On the tarmac Chidananda set up an altar on a table and we began kirtan. Crowds of onlookers surrounded us and watched us from behind the terminals’ windows and balconies, kneeling over the railings to smile and wave at us below. I was elated, not only were we on our way to the holy land of India, but now we were chanting and dancing in exotic Muslim Egypt. And all these people were getting the benefit of hearing the holy names. 

After leading the kirtan for some time, I addressed the soldiers and other people gathered around us. Then I took two of the soldiers by their hands and pulled them into the kirtan. And they sang and danced and laughed in enjoyment. 

Nanda Kumar had been playing kartals, but feeling anxious about the potential dangers of the situation, he had circled around the plane to chant by himself and pray for protection. “When I came back,” he later described, “the first thing I saw were two machine guns leaning against the bus. And Giriraj holding one guy in each hand. And these Egyptian military guys were jumping up and down chanting Hare Krishna with big grins on their faces.” So, that was special, that was special. Yes, I guess you could say we were fearless. And we were successful. We wanted everyone to chant and dance with us. And overall, we were successful.

Madan Sunder dasa: Thank you Thank you so much Maharaja. We have Mother Nandani Radha. She has her hand up. I will ask her to unmute, and she can ask her question.

Nandani Radha: Hare Krishna Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet. Maharaja thank you so much for such a wonderful narration. I had a question for you because you used the words “Perfect Spiritual Master” quite often in your search, so when you encountered Srila Prabhupada were there any, very specific attributes that you were looking for in a spiritual master, in terms of those twenty-six qualities? Or what was your definition of protection at that time Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: Oh well, I didn’t know the twenty-six qualities of a devotee then. But I am thinking of the title of the book Perfect Questions Perfect Answers. He was my perfect master because he answered all of my questions perfectly. And also, he, yes, everything about Krishna consciousness was perfect. The chanting, the prasāda, the philosophy, the guru, of course. And it was all coming from Srila Prabhupada. So, yes, he was my perfect master, all the other ones as I related, had some defect to my mind, but I didn’t find any defect in him. So, he was my perfect master and still is. Hare Krishna

Madan Sunder dasa: Hare Krishna! I request Medhavini Sakhi devi dasi, she as a question. She can unmute herself.

Medhavini Sakhi devi dasi: Hare Krishna Maharaja! Daṇḍavat praṇāmas! I am so grateful to you Maharaja that you kindly accepted our invite and you are here with us. It is a dream come true Maharaja for me and for all persons who have joined this session. So, Maharaja, I remember I asked you this question earlier on when you gave this talk in the ISKCON Chennai temple. I am so blown away by your responses. How straight forward, how very down to earth you are in your response, I was blown by it. So, for the benefit of all the hundred participants on Zoom and close to 100–200 participants on YouTube, if you can just quickly summarize Maharaja what are the qualities in Prabhupada that you found, you were so attracted to that you surrendered your life to Srila Prabhupada? And we have His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja in ISKCON. Because of so many of us, millions of us are now a part of ISKCON. Could you please share something Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, well Srila Prabhupada had so many wonderful qualities. One, is his humility. Once he gave a talk in which he was speaking about the different categories, like brahmana, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudra. And someone in the audience sort of challenged him, “So what are you? I suppose you are the highest.” And Srila Prabhupada replied without any pretence or duplicity, “I am the lowest of all, I am the servant of everyone.” And yes, that was his mood, his humility, his compassion, which I touched upon in some of what I described. His intelligence, I think of something he told us, just came into my mind, once someone asked Srila Prabhupada’s servant Srutakirti Prabhu, what quality of Srila Prabhupada struck him the most? And he replied Srila Prabhupada’s practicality! He is the most practical person that he ever met. And yes, there were so many times Srila Prabhupada showed his practicality. There was one time early in Juhu, they needed a string to tie the microphone to the tape recorder, to the microphone through which Srila Prabhupada was giving his talk. And they didn’t have any string. So, Srila Prabhupada said, “Ok, one of you give your brahman thread.” So to me that is an example of Srila Prabhupada’s practicality. Yes, his wisdom, his compassion, his surrender to Krishna, his dependence on Krishna. Yes, he was like a perfect person.

Madan Sunder dasa: Thank you Maharaja. There is a question on the chat form Mother Alisha from London. She is asking, “Dear Maharaja, you have seen devotees then, and you are seeing them now. Do you think things have changed? Is there any word of caution for new devotees like us, since you have been through ISKCON from the beginning and through different places?”

Giriraj Swami: That is a good question. Because we are concerned of course about the future of the movement. And keeping Srila Prabhupada in the center. And if devotees, well… everything, but specifically I am thinking if they read Srila Prabhupada’s books and apply what they read in their lives, they will be able to continue Krishna consciousness, their own individual Krishna consciousness, and the Krishna consciousness movement. And also to chant very attentively. On a couple of occasions Srila Prabhupada was asked, “Now you here, so if we have questions, we can ask you. What about later when you are not here, how will we get the answers to our questions?” So that question was presented by Satsvarupa dasa at the time to Srila Prabhupada. And Srila Prabhupada replied, “The holy name of Krishna is not different from Krishna. It is the same as Krishna. Do you realize this fact?” And another occasion Srila Prabhupada gave the same kind of answer when asked, how we would get answers, after he left. So, I think that it is really important that we chant good rounds. I think the combination of chanting good rounds and studying Srila Prabhupada’s books will keep us. Of course, Srila Prabhupada wanted us to preach and distribute books. He said, “Distributing my books will keep them happy and reading my books will keep them,” meaning in Krishna consciousness. So, we should do both and then the process is complete. We should taste and distribute.

Madan Sunder dasa: Thank you so much for that wonderful answer. Somehow, this has become a struggle as the days go on. In the beginning it seems to be very wonderful when things are new, chanting is new, Srila Prabhupada’s books are new and however when it goes on after several years, the same thing sometimes becomes difficult as you very rightly said Maharaja. It all begins with attentive chanting, and sticking to the process of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly. Thank you for reminding us of the basics which often at times we forget as we are moving forward in our journey. 

Maharaja, there is another question from Dr. Sachin Prabhu, and his question is about being accepted by a spiritual master. And his question I will just read out… what he says: The realization of finding guru. and being accepted by guru, at times takes a lot of exams by destiny. How to remain. . .Being accepted by a guru, sometimes takes a lot of time. I think there are lot of exams by destiny, in another sense, it depends, we don’t know when our guru will accept us. We are trying to be steadfast to the process. So, how to remain steadfast, if we are not getting initiated or guru is not yet giving initiation? And not to get disturbed, however we have surrendered and accepted a particular spiritual master to be our guru in our heart. How would Paramātmā help, pass our message to the guru to accept me as a disciple?

Giriraj Swami: So, is this Dr. Sachin Prabhu? On Zoom?

Dr. Sachin: Yes, Maharaja.

Giriraj Swami: So, you have selected someone who you want as your guru? And is that person initiating? Dr. Sachin? So, you have selected someone to be your guru, so the person you have selected, is that person initiating?

Dr. Sachin: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Daṇḍavat praṇāmas. So, basically, my query was, you find someone as the right guru, like in your case, you gave us this realization and your experience you shared with us right now. How you after approaching so many people you found Prabhupadaji to be the ideal guru. The question also happens after you have found someone as your right guru and you have accepted him in your heart, you want to surrender, at the same time it is also important that the guru also blesses you simultaneously, otherwise you will never progress. That is what we hear. Unless there is a…, what I would say, blessings from the devotee and the guru you cannot progress in bhakti. So, at times it takes time because the guru also needs to have confidence in you that yes, you are the perfect surrendered soul and that you can take forwards his instructions. At that time, at times we feel that we get disturbed. There are so any people asking us why you are doing this or that things. So, how to remain steady? And the second question is, if you have surrendered to someone and accepted as a spiritual master in your heart especially, how is it not possible that the Paramātmā is able to share this with the spiritual master this realization? So, that was my humble question, Prabhuji. How does this process happen and how can you get the mercy continuously?

Giriraj Swami: If you have selected someone to approach to become your spiritual master, you should tell him. You shouldn’t wait for the Paramātmā in your heart to tell the Paramātmā in his heart. You should approach him. And, well, you may have to be patient, that also is one of the requirements as stated by Rupa Gosvami in Upadeśāmṛta.

Utsāhān dhairyāt niścayād, utsāhān means enthusiasm, niścayād means confidence, and dhairyāt means patience. So, we need both enthusiasm and patience. Srila Prabhupada said that enthusiasm without patience could lead to a desire to control. And that patience without enthusiasm can lead to lethargy. So, we need to have both. You should be enthusiastic, definitely to find your guru and to be accepted by your guru, but at the same time you also have to be patient.

Dr. Sachin: Thank you Maharaja 

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna

Madan Sunder dasa: Hare Krishna! Now maybe we will take this as one of the last questions. From a young boy, whose name is Vraja Mohan Prabhu, he is a teenager and he is asking a question: What was the most important instruction of Srila Prabhupada to you? 

Giriraj Swami: Well, one that comes to mind, he gave to me in Calcutta, I asked him, “Now you are here, so everything is all right. But what if in the future when you are not here, ISKCON falls from the standard, what should I do?” And Srila Prabhupada replied, “You are also one of the important members of the society,” which I don’t think I really was at that time, but anyways he said, “You are also one of the important members of the society so you work for the correction, but don’t leave.” And another one which came very close to the end, maybe three days before Srila Prabhupada left us in Vrindavan. He asked to see me, it was practically in the middle of the night, he was lying on his bed. And he asked, “So, after I leave, do you think this movement will go on?” And I replied, ”As long as the devotees are sincere and chant their rounds and follow their regulative principles, it will go on.” And Srila Prabhupada responded, “Organization, intelligence and organization.” And from that I understood, yes, for our own Krishna consciousness, we have to chant. We have to be sincere and chant our sixteen rounds and follow the four regulative principles. But to preach, we need organization, intelligence, and organization. So, I think those were very important personal instructions in addition to the general instructions about the practice of bhakti- yoga.

So, to receive regular updates about Srila Prabhupada’s “Smaran Utsav” join this Srila Prabhupada “Smaran Utsav What is app group” if you have not already joined. And then the link is there, it is in the chat. So, please all of you and then you can learn more about the upcoming programs by Evolve Pune here. And then there is a web address for that. So, there is a lot in the chat. So, my dear devotees please get the information from the chat and also did you also want to say something about my book? 

Madan Sunder dasa: Yes, Maharaja, if you would like to say something or I else I can direct them the weblink. Just one second, Maharaja. So dear devotees, thank you all for joining us once again. This is Maharaja’s Official website. And if you happen to go there, girirajswami.com, you will find in the corner here, there are four books which have been published so far. You can either go here or else you can, if you are in India, you can go on amazon.in and there you can search for Giriraj Maharaja. Again, the four books, Many Moons (this is the first book I had read); I don’t know the chronologically which one was the first but this one was the first book I got when I was back there in America. I believe it was published somewhere around 2011 and 2012. And this was on the lives of around several devotees who have departed away. And Maharaja had been beautifully transcribed or written about them, about their journey in Krishna consciousness. And then we have the Watering the Seed, and Maharaja today was sharing from that what Maharaja has written in the book about his journey. About meeting with Srila Prabhupada. And there is another book titled as Life’s Final Exam. It is about preparing, death and dying from the Vedic perspective. And one of the recently published books, I’ll Build You a Temple.

Almost fifteen years ago I had read Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta and of course for the sake of when we have to teach, I refer to it, but when I started reading it, it was after Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, this was the book which really gave me that emotional jolt. You know really, particularly this was all about India. What happened in India. Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta takes you all over the world, what Prabhupada did for this book. And I am in Pune right now, So, Bombay is very close by here, it was a very inspiring and encouraging to read. So, a humble request to all of you, the whole purpose to organize this program centered around knowing more about Srila Prabhupada, and as Maharaja said, made a point that for the future generations it is very important for all of us to stay connected to Srila Prabhupada. To make Srila Prabhupada the center of our life and it is very important therefore for us to read about Srila Prabhupada. Interestingly, every Srila Prabhupada’s disciple had a personal journey with Srila Prabhupada. And everyone! So many books have come, and every time you read the books, the journey which is written by Prabhupada’s disciples is phenomenal! It is a different story, different perspective and it just opens up a new chapter in our life about Srila Prabhupada. And so does the wonderful contribution that Maharaja made by taking his precious time and spending months and years together to put down this book I’ll Build You a Temple. Please do. 

Maharaja, we recently, a year before when we had our marathon here in Pune, so marathon gifts, as a part of the gifts to all those who had distributed books, we distributed this book for all the congregation and brahmacharis. There was a huge number when the books were given out. And recently also the books were given out when His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Maharaja had visited Pune. And that time also Maharaja was encouraging all to read this book. So, like that I have three copies with me, in different occasions. I am half way through, probably in a week or two I will finish it. So, my request to all of you, please read it. So, you can just say what we had today was a prologue. Rest of the contents of the book to be unfolded when you open the book, I’ll Build You a Temple.

And last announcement for all of you, as I said this is just kind of prologue for the “Smaran Utsav” also. What we are going to have next is, if you go to evolvepune.com There on the homepage you will find this link. This is the program schedule where next week on Sunday morning we will have His Holiness Bhanu Swami Maharaja, then we have Nṛsiṁha Swami Maharaja and all others to follow up and you check out the list. And at the bottom of it we have kept again an online competition. Somehow people like to take part in competitions so when there is a hearing going on. So, lets evaluate that and do take part in the competition which is based on English and Hindi language. And the content for that quiz is based on Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, first five chapters. And also, the lectures, what Maharaja is going to speak on, there selected questions will be posted there. So, thank you all, Maharaja any concluding remarks or any concluding directions for us to follow in your footsteps and become sincere soldiers in the army of Srila Prabhupada day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year—- may our service contribution all increase. Any concluding remarks on that, Maharaja? 

Giriraj Swami: Well, somehow, I think of when Srila Prabhupada was in New York city, and he was being interviewed on the radio. The interviewer asked him, “Do you have any message for the people of New York?” Then Srila Prabhupada replied, “Yes, don’t live like cats and dogs!” And of course, there is no need for me to say this to you exalted devotees. Yes, just chant attentively, serve the devotees humbly, study Srila Prabhupada’s books, distribute his books and be happy in Krishna consciousness.

Thank you so much, Maharaja for taking out your time, and enlivening and enriching our hearts with Srila Prabhupada’s memories and love. I will just conclude with one more little incidence where I was humbled in your association because of my own foolishness. I was a new bhakta, and I was asked to serve Maharaja. So, I was serving Maharaja, that time dinner, when program had ended. I was telling him I was a new bhakta, and when I was serving a vegetable, there was a vegetable which was being served so I was serving that to Maharaja, and Maharaja looked at me and asked, “What is this?” and I had no clue what that vegetable was all about. I very confidently said, “Maharaja, this is called vegetable!” I mean, I wish I had a camera that time, I would have taken a snapshot of Maharaja’s look. He gave me such a quizzical look. And he looked at me and said, “Even I know this is a vegetable, what is in it?” I didn’t know what to say, I had no idea. I remember, I ran to the temple to find out the Mataji who had cooked it and asked,” Mataji, what was in that vegetable?” She was also confused, what is the vegetable and all that. And finally, I got an answer and I gave. So, it is always wonderful to get association, if not vapuḥ but vāṇī. Vāṇī is more important. So, fortunate and blessed today, that we had the opportunity to hear from you Maharaja. Hope to have your association time and again if your schedule permits. 

Giriraj Swami: Yes, jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

So, if we are ending now, I suggest 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 and can fulfil the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

ananta koṭi vaiṣṇava-vṛnda—kī jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Madan Sunder dasa: His Holiness Giriraj Maharaja ki jaya!

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna!