Vasant Panchami House Program

Giriraj Swami: So my dear devotees, I have been told that the format of today’s program is that you will share any thoughts you have or ask any questions, and it will be an interactive session. So, anyone have anything to say or ask, can raise your hand.

Devotee: How can we please you the most?

Giriraj Swami: Once there was a big meeting of the book distributors with Srila Prabhupada in Atlanta. They had come from all over the country. And someone asked Srila Prabhupada, “How can we please you the most?” And they were expecting him to say, ‘By distributing the books,’ but that is not what he said. He said, “If you love Krishna.” So, I guess that would be my answer too.

Devotee: So my question is, what influence you the most when you met Prabhupada ji? So how did you get transformed? You left everything and you just gave up and want to pursue this. So what made you transform everything, gave up everything and then you came to India and you started building this? So how did you convince the people over here also? Those are the two things.

Giriraj Swami: How did I convince the people to contribute? There is a story in the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, also described in the Kṛṣṇa book, about a fruit vendor who came to the home of Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda to sell fruits. And Krishna was just a few years old at the time. And there was a system of barter where they would pay in goods. So little Krishna filled up His hands with rice to carry to the fruit vendor. But because His hands were small and He wasn’t used to holding things, most of the rice fell out. There is only a little rice left when He reached the fruit vendor. But she was very attracted by Krishna’s beauty and charm, so she accepted those few grains of rice, and filled up His arms with fruit. And then she saw that her basket which had been filled with fruits was now filled with valuable gems and jewels. So I suppose I told this story to people who I had approached. And later His Holiness Radhanath Swami commented that the Juhu temple was built on the basis of that story. [Applause]

As far as my first meeting with Srila Prabhupada, well, in high school I developed the desire to achieve perfect happiness. And I understood that perfect happiness could be achieved only spiritually not materially. And then I came to understand that in order to progress spiritually I needed a guru. And then my quest became to find my guru. I met many gurus, so-called gurus and I was not satisfied with any of them, to the point that I almost gave up hope. Furthermore, I had a mental impression of what my guru will look like, vague mental impression, and he didn’t have hair. Now the other gurus had long hair and beards. So that also made me feel more hopeless. So one night I had some friends over for dinner, I was already a vegetarian, and the plan was that after dinner, we would go to see a movie. In those days they had, what they call art houses where they show films. But I had seen a poster on campus, ‘Lecture- Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’ for that night. So I told my friends that I wanted to go to the lecture and they said, “Oh, we were going to the movies!” I said, “Okay, we will go to the lecture first and then we will go to the later show.” And then one of my friends, the lady friend said, “Why do you always have to be chasing after these swamis and gurus? Why can’t you be normal like other people?” And I didn’t like to displease people, I have been obliging sort of person so I tried to go along but something inside me kept telling me that You must go, you must go, you must go. And then she was saying, “Why you always have to be chasing after these swamis and gurus?” And she raised her voice and I raised my voice. And I said, “Okay, this will be the last one I ever go to.”

So we went to the auditorium. And because of the argument we reached late. And Srila Prabhupada was on the stage with his disciples. And I think Satsvarupa was leading kirtan. And one by one, the students in the audience got out of their seat, went up onto the stage and joined the chanting and dancing. I also felt like doing that but it would be too much for my friends, I just stood up in place in and just swayed. Then afterwards, Satsvarupa announced, if any devotees are driving to Boston or Cambridge the devotees need a lift because they didn’t own any motor vehicles then. And I was going to Cambridge, to the movie. So I went out to the lobby. And the first devotee I met was Baradraja Prabhu, the father of Gauravani, famous kirtan leader. And he was so high on Krishna consciousness. And it was a real contrast because all the other gurus, so-called gurus I went to, their students were all quite morose and mundane, and Baradraja was just the opposite.

So anyway, I said that I am driving to Harvard Square, I can give the devotees a lift. So they all piled in my red Station Wagon which my father had given me as a high school graduation present. And I was in the front with a lady devotee named Jahnava. And other devotees were [Unintelligible], and in the very back was Satsvarupa and my best friend named Gary. And so I had all these questions, I started to ask Jahnava. And I asked about Yogananda because I had read this book Autobiography of a Yogi. She said, “Oh, he is just a shopkeeper. Whatever you want he keeps it in stock. You want yoga, he will give you yoga. You want Krishna, he will give you Krishna. You want Ganesh, he will give you Ganesh. And at his ashram in California, he has a monument to Mahatma Gandhi as a worker for world peace. Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t working for world peace; he was working to drive the British out of India. Yogananda doesn’t even know who Mahatma Gandhi is.” so, “Okay.”

Then I asked about Zen. And she gave such a brilliant answer, better than any description I had read in any of the Zen books or from any of the Zen masters I met. And she said it is like that you are looking at images of a movie on a screen but actually they have no substance, and if you pull your attention back from the screen, you will see there is a beam of light, and that light comes to a point, and all comes to the void. Beyond the point there is a light bulb and beyond the light bulb is a machine, movie projector, and behind the machine is a person. I thought Wow, this is the better explanation of Zen than I have ever heard, it went way pass Zen. So I was very impressed by her, Jahnava. And I was thinking she is speaking with such authority but she is just a young girl, she couldn’t be speaking on her own authority, she must be speaking on the authority of her teacher. So we reached Harvard Square, I let devotees out. And then I realized I didn’t know how to get in touch with them. So I jumped out of the car and ran up to the devotees, and the devotee that I reached first, his name was Patita Pavan. And he also was so transcendental. He said, “You see all these people, they are just like sleepwalkers. They don’t know who they are or where they are going.” Everything that the devotees said was so profound. But then suddenly I heard honking of horns, loud honking of horns, and I realized that all the traffic at Harvard Square was backed up because I left my car at the roundabout. So I said, “Quick, give me the address to the temple, I want to come.”

So then the next day I went. And Srila Prabhupada was speaking. And because I wasn’t familiar with the philosophy, and I wasn’t used to his accent, he had a very thick Bengali accent so I couldn’t follow everything. But at one stage he said, “Out of many thousands of men, one would seek perfection.” And I thought That is me. He is talking about me. And then he asked for questions. And I had my question that I was going to ask. And I said, “There is so many yogis and swamis, and each one recommends a different method of realization, and each one says his is best. So how do I know which is actually best?” And Srila Prabhupada’s reply was brilliant. He said, “What is your goal? Do you want to serve God or do you want to become God?” Because I was asking what is the best means but the underlying question is, what is the end for which you want to adopt them? And he said, “If you want to become God, that means you are not God now. And, how can ‘not-God’ become a God? Krishna is God. He is always God. He is God when He is on the lap of Mother Yasoda, He is God when He is speaking the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna. He never has to become God by yoga or meditation.” And he said, “If you sow the seed of service to God and water it with chanting, God will provide the sunlight, and air, and all the favorable conditions to make it grow. He will help you. But if you want to become God you are only cheating yourself because why should God help the competition? So you can become Godly but you cannot become God.”

So at that time, I had the distinct feeling that Srila Prabhupada is seeing through me, through the walls of the temple, over the roads into my apartment, into my bathroom, onto the wall of my bathroom where I had inscribed in ornate colorful lettering a sign that said, “You Are God” to remind me in case I forgot. So Srila Prabhupada said, “So, what do you think? You want to become God or you want to serve God?” So I said, “I want to serve God,” but I knew I couldn’t cheat Srila Prabhupada so, “But actually I wanted to become God.” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes.” So then I knew I met my perfect master. I bowed down my head in obeisance, and I kept it down for quite a while in surrendered. But it wasn’t only surrender, it was that I was afraid to look up because I imagined that all the people would be looking, glaring at me, “Oh, he wanted to become God! He wanted to become God!” But after some minutes I heard sounds that indicated that food was being served. So I thought The mood will chance now and it will be safe. So I came up. Nobody was glaring at me. Everyone was smiling and happy. And so I had this plate of prasāda in front of me. It was very colorful with many different textures. I didn’t know where to begin but I think I chose a cauliflower pakora. And when I bit into it, there was such explosion of taste in my mouth like nothing I had ever experienced before. And every item was like that, it was fantastic. So then I thought Everything about Krishna consciousness is perfect. The guru, the philosophy, the process of chanting, the food.

So I would come every night. Srila Prabhupada program was Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he would speak at the temple. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday he would speak outside. Tuesday and Thursday he would give address at the one of the universities. And Sunday was the Sunday love-feast. And as I mentioned, devotees didn’t own any motor vehicles and I had one, so I volunteered to drive Srila Prabhupada to all of these programs. And there was one at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, one of the most prestigious in the United States and the students were very bright. And Srila Prabhupada gave a talk and then kirtan. And then he asked for questions. And many students raised their hands. And one said, “You say that by chanting Hare Krishna all problems will be solved, but actually in Russia there were people who were chanting God’s name but things only changed when there was a revolution.” And Srila Prabhupada said, “So, now after the revolution are the people in Russia happy?” And the student said, “No.” Then Srila Prabhupada said, “Then what was the use of such revolution?”

Then another student said, “You say that we can get this result by repeating Hare Krishna, but couldn’t you repeat anything and get the same result like one two three, one two three, one two three, one two three?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Of course that is not possible. But if you want, you can try counting, and when you get tired of counting, you can try chanting.” Then a student asked, “Have you seen God?” Asked Srila Prabhupada. Then Srila Prabhupada said, “If I tell you falsely that I have seen God, will you believe me?” And the student said, “No.” Then Srila Prabhupada said, “Then what was the use of asking me the question?” So like this he disposed of all the student’s questions. And afterwards, I was loitering amongst the students, listening to their comments about the program and about Srila Prabhupada. And then suddenly Radharani came running up to me in very lovingly imitating Srila Prabhupada’s voice she said, “So, where is the driver?” “Oh my gosh! I have to drive Srila Prabhupada.” So went to the car and I let him in He was in the front seat with me. And on the way back we got lost because I had come during the day, it was okay to find my way but now it was dark, I tried to go in the direction in which I thought the temple was but after a while I realized we were lost. Then I asked the other devotees if anyone know the way, and nobody knew the way. Prabhupada turned to me and said, “Is not the driver supposed to know the way?” I thought Oh no, I didn’t know I had duties as a driver. I just wanted to help. Anyway, eventually we made it and I jumped out, opened the door. And I said, “Srila Prabhupada, I am sorry. I got us lost.” And Srila Prabhupada smiled very lovingly and compassionately and said, “That is all right.” “And I was very impressed because I have seen how he had demolished all those universities students, he could have demolished me for getting us lost but he didn’t, he was very kind and compassion.

So then after about two weeks the devotees told me that Srila Prabhupada was leaving. And I didn’t know he was going to leave, I didn’t know that there were other temples that he had to visit. And they asked if I wanted to go to the airport and I said, “Yes.” So we went to the airport. And in those days, you could just go up to the gate, they had some [Unintelligible]. And many of the devotees were crying. So I asked Arundhati, why they are crying. And she said that Srila Prabhupada said, “On the absolute platform meeting and separation are the same.” And I thought that sounded good but I wasn’t quite sure how practical it was. Srila Prabhupada said that the devotee should watch the plane until it disappears in the distance just like the gopīs watched Krishna’s chariot when He was going to Mathura until it disappeared. So we did that and then we came back. But I did have that doubt. Then one day, we were doing hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana outside the Copley Square Subway Station. And I felt Srila Prabhupada’s presence descend on me, tangible and palpable. And then I thought about what Arundhati had said that on the absolute platform meeting and separation are the same. And I realized yes that even in separation, there can be meeting.

So from then on my mission was to bring people to Srila Prabhupada. Then after Srila Prabhupada left, I wondered how I am going to do this now. But eventually I realized that I can introduce people to Srila Prabhupada’s books, to his devotees, to his instruction and I can still be connected to Srila Prabhupada. And I know if anyone becomes connected to Srila Prabhupada, his or her life will become successful. And that was the meeting. And as far as leaving everything, I never considered it, I just wanted to join the movement and Srila Prabhupada. But after about a year and a half in Boston Srila Prabhupada decided to return to India. He wanted to revive the Krishna consciousness in India. And pretty much everyone wanted to go with the Srila Prabhupada but the standard was that the number two man in each temple, there were only about twelve or fourteen temples, so the idea was that number two person in each temple would go, and I was the number two in Boston after Satsvarupa. So yes I got to go.

So anyway after maybe a year of traveling with Srila Prabhupada, he eventually established the center. We had a rented a house in Calcutta. And my parents came to see me; to get me back. And so before they came I told Srila Prabhupada that they were coming. And I didn’t know how to respond. And Srila Prabhupada said, “You have to spend time with them.” So I did. I showed them some sites. I introduced them to some of my friends. And then there was a meeting between them and Srila Prabhupada. And Srila Prabhupada said he wanted to establish a fund for me and put a million dollars in it, and he wanted me to come to America to sign the document. And Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, you could send me the documents and he will sign.” So then my mother’s angle was somewhat different. She was concerned about my health. And in those days most people have the idea, if you didn’t eat meat, you couldn’t get enough protein. So Srila Prabhupada always kept sweets on his table, being in Calcutta, he had rasagullā and sandeśa. So he put some in my father’s hand and my mother’s hand. And he said, “These are made of cheese and they are very high in protein.” And then he said to me, “Giriraj, you must eat two dozen rasagullā and sandeśa every day.” Still working on it.

So again, my father wanted me to come back to America. And Srila Prabhupada said, “I will be coming to America, I will bring him with me when I come.” And I said to my father, “Just see how intelligent Srila Prabhupada is because when it is winter in the West and it is cold and unpleasant, Srila Prabhupada stays in India where it is very pleasant. And when it is the summer in India and it is too hot in India, it is very pleasant in the West, so he goes to the West then.” And by then my father was getting very enlivened by Srila Prabhupada and he said, “Actually, he is very intelligent.” Then Srila Prabhupada said, “Your son is intelligent because he has understood my strategy.” And my father said again, “No, you are very intelligent.” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Well yes, I must be, otherwise how could I attract so many intelligent, young men like your son.”

So everything was concluded very nicely. There is more bit I am giving the gist. And as my father was leaving I was accompanying him, my mother outside the room, he said, “I will say two things about your master. He is a brilliant organizer and he really knows how to deal with people.” And in my father’s value system those were two of the highest compliments. Anyway eventually I went to Madras. And in Madras I was staying at different people’s homes and eating well, idlis, sambhar, dosas, and I put on weight. And then eventually I invited Srila Prabhupada for a program, which was a very successful weekly program. And when he saw that I have put on a weight, he said I should take a picture of myself and send it to my mother. She might be worried; he had not forgotten. So yes, it is wonderful being with Srila Prabhupada, it is wonderful serving him also.

Any other questions or comments? Yes.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. There is a joke about Bhaktin Ninda. At one point when I was just beginning, I just started exchanging emails with you and you addressed me as Bhaktin Ninda. I thought I am initiated. I told everyone my initiated name is Bhaktin Ninda. But my question is, when it comes to just life in general, there is a lot of spiritual nourishment that I am receiving from your darshan, my godsister’s guidance and just following the regulative principles. And one of the things that has been on my mind is why is that happening and that is really brought a lot of peace into my life, in general. There are a lot of material desires, and one way to deal with them, like the anxiety that comes with that is to turn them into a spiritual desire? That is what I had learned from some of the lectures. For example, there was this one Prabhu you were talking about who wanted to have a different house and he was looking for the house, it wasn’t happening. But then when he basically got guidance from his spiritual godbrothers, godsisters that he must turn it into a spiritual desire and think of it like, Oh, let me have a house with a bigger sitting area, bigger living area because that is how I can host devotees for kirtan. 

So yes, one way is turn them into spiritual desires. But I was wondering, there are then two aspects to how maybe I can deal with the anxiety that comes with material desires. One is to turn them into spiritual desires. I have also heard from you that you should put in your effort in order to gain those material desires that you have but also surrender to Krishna. But because I don’t think I am surrendered to Krishna, I don’t know what that feels like. And yes I wanted to ask something different [Unintelligible] because you are truly surrendered, so I thought I would ask you, what does it mean to be surrendered to Krishna and Prabhupada?

Giriraj Swami: Well, there are six divisions of surrender and those are quoted in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. And first is ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ, then prātikūlyasya varjanam. Accept whatever is favorable and reject whatever is unfavorable. And then, to always be humble, to be convinced that only Krishna can fulfill your desires and no one and nothing else can, and to consider Krishna as your only maintainer. [Unintelligible 01:49:44] it is very nice. So, those are the six divisions of surrender. And if you work on those then you will be relieved of the anxiety that you feel from not being surrendered. Of course, there can also be transcendental anxiety but from the way you phrased the question you are referring to the material anxiety. And chant good rounds; ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam, that will cleanse the mirror of your consciousness. And it will help you to rise above the material anxiety.

Any other questions or comments?

Devotee: I wanted to know about the stages of bhakti in that specifically anartha-nivṛtti. I feel is the longest and how can we come out of that faster, anartha-nivṛtti stage?

Giriraj Swami: So you are referring to the different stages in the development of devotional service as stated by Srila Rupa Gosvami. So ādau śraddhā, first is faith. tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo—then associating with devotees. And there must be some association of devotees in order to develop faith but this ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo, that means to systematically associate with devotees. Then, bhajana-kriyā, to engage in devotional service. And Srila Prabhupada said, “At the stage of bhajana-kriyā you take initiation from the spiritual master and engage in the full practice of bhakti-yoga.” Then comes anartha-nivṛtti, which you mentioned, which is the eradication of anarthas, unwanted desire, unwanted behavior. And then when you pass through that stage, you come to niṣṭhā, then you are very fixed and steady. Not all the anarthas are completely eradicated but Srila Prabhupada said 75 percent. So then you come to niṣṭhā—fixed and steady then ruci—taste. Then, āsakti - attachment. Those are the seven stages in sādhana-bhakti, then comes bhāva-bhakti, that is the eighth, and the ninth is prema-bhakti. So yes, things get a lot better after anartha-nivṛtti. Hope that question is answered.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:53:54–01:54:22]. How to resolve that? [Unintelligible]. I didn’t get you.

Giriraj Swami: You are asking how to become free from anarthas faster? Well, we know offenseless, attentive chanting [Unintelligible], that is the best method. And yes, when I was in Calcutta Srila Prabhupada was keeping us so busy that we hardly had time to read. This was back in 1971. And I was feeling guilty but I didn’t say anything to Srila Prabhupada. So, sitting with Srila Prabhupada in New-Zealand, he must have read my mind or know my heart, he quoted this verse,

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

So that meaning is that, by serving the person bhāgavata or reading the book Bhāgavata, all that is inauspicious in the heart, that means anarthas, however inauspicious in heart becomes destroyed almost to none, and transcendental loving service to the Lord becomes established as irrevocable fact. So, that verse describes the transition from anartha-nivṛtti to niṣṭhā. And in that context where I wasn’t getting time to read, Srila Prabhupada said that, “If you wholeheartedly serving the person bhāgavata, all the truth in the book Bhāgavata will be revealed to you even if you don’t read the book. But that is in the extra ordinary circumstances and we should read the books. As we read in the verse, transition from anartha-nivṛtti to niṣṭhā, Srila Prabhupada said that, “The 75 percent of sin is eradicated by nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. [Unintelligible 01:58:20] the word Krishna’s and those other traditional friends my mother to environment I have also heard that your defense attachment becomes your last thought okay practitioners the Perfection of devotion is seeing as blue in the end of this one and tonight how do we like that the type of attachment will be how to get all those together

Giriraj Swami: Well, there is a nice verse in the Third Canto, Twenty-eighth Chapter, in which Lord Kapila deva said that everyone knows that attachment to the material is the greatest bondage for the conditioned soul but the same attachment, if transferred to self-realized devotees opens the door to liberation. So yes, Srila Prabhupada always says, you can’t stop attachment, you can’t kill attachments, you have to transfer the attachments to self-realized devotee. We do that by associating with them, following their instructions, serving them. Generally, we develop the qualities of the person we serve. What were you saying about your mother?

Devotee: I was saying that out of all people that I met throughout my life, [Unintelligible 02:01:30]

Giriraj Swami: [Unintelligible 02:01:40]

Devotee: Humble obeisances Maharaja, few days back, I was hearing a class [Unintelligible 02:02:06] many things so for protection I changed simple situations I call the holy name for protection this message

Giriraj Swami: No, the seventh offense is to commit sin on the strength of chanting you described that with something that category. It is okay but you are afraid of [Unintelligible 02:03:10], that okay.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. It is not a question but [Unintelligible 02:04:00] I want to show unto you that before I met you I would like to totally into headless thoughts that I was not getting the proper vision of my life. And after meeting you, my life’s thought process and through change and so many other things have been changed. So, I am literally thankful to you. Thank you so much for bringing you your association and your mercy. Thank you.

Giriraj Swami: Okay thank you. No, but we have an online audience.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to your divine grace. So we all follow devotional service like different types of reading, chanting, deity worship and we have to take care of our body as well materially, we sleep also. Sometimes it becomes very difficult with work and all to follow everything. So what is the most important thing that we need to do? Chanting is there, but I feel that because there are other forms of devotional service that I follow like deity worship and reading and all, sometimes chanting takes a back seat. So then what to do so that because of time, it is not possible sometimes to finish chanting in the morning and the whole day takes to finish the chanting. So, what should I do so that I can finish my chanting or should I focus more on chanting than on the other forms of devotional service?

Giriraj Swami: Well there is a verse, smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇuḥ vismartavyo na jātucit, that one should always remember Krishna and never forget Him. And in the purport, Srila Prabhupada writes that there are many activities in Krishna consciousness movement and they are all meant to help us remember Krishna. But then he says, of all the instructions of the spiritual master, the instruction to chant minimum sixteen rounds is most essential, and that is most essential. Srila Prabhupada did say, first health, then chanting, then service, then reading.

Devotee: I have another question. So, what you said about material desires, while doing devotional service, sometimes material desire pop up. Like while doing deity worship in the morning, material desire pop up. We try to make them to go way but still it pops up, it doesn’t stop. What to do at that time?

Giriraj Swami: Just ignore them, stay focused on your service.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to your divine grace. I heard one pastime with Srila Prabhupada and His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, but somewhat faded from my heart. And there is a question on that pastime. So, it was the pastime in Madras where you had arranged Srila Prabhupada’s meeting with [Unintelligible 02:08:35]. And Srila Prabhupada was taking rest, he had come from somewhere, and he was taking rest and you were in two minds to wake him up or to let him take rest. But the time was the contemporaries were leaving from the place where the program was. And then you thought and you never woke up Srila Prabhupada and the program was almost over till Srila Prabhupada was little concern. So, Srila Prabhupada asked you that, “Why didn’t you wake me up,” something like that. And I don’t remember the whole pastime but then Tamal Krishna Maharaja gave you one instruction or something that you should have woke him up at the right time. I don’t want to interpret my own words. Guru Maharaja, I want to hear from you the whole pastime.

Giriraj Swami: Well, in essence, what you describe is accurate. There was a procession down the Main Street, Monk Road in the Madras. Srila Prabhupada was resting and I thought that he is completely surrendered to Krishna, Krishna will wake him up. [Unintelligible 02:10:35]. So what I think is a principle that is involved here is like taking service and Krishna. I wanted Krishna to wake Srila Prabhupada but that was my service. And I had a similar experience in Boston when I first joined the temple. So when we went out on saṅkīrtana, I was supposed to lock the temple. But one day, I forgot to, I hadn’t gone very far and I remember. And I said to the temple president that, “Krishna will protect.” And Satsvarupa said, “No, that is too much to [Unintelligible 02:11:50], you should have locked the door.” So it is a subtle distinction between serving and depending on Krishna. Depending on Krishna means you make your best effort and depend on Krishna. [Unintelligible 02:12:25], you don’t do what you are supposed to and depend on Krishna to do it.

Devotee: Could you elaborate a little more about at what point you said, you realize that the door was not locked, it was a short distance from the temple. So did you go back?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. I went back.

Devotee: But of course, if you didn’t go far. Let us say from Radha-Rasabihari to Chowpatti and then you arrived in Chowpatti and you realize you forgot to lock the door. Then is it taking service from Krishna to think that He will protect the place or should you go back on the road?

Giriraj Swami: I wouldn’t go back, I would not go back to. [Unintelligible 02:13:50] Hope for the best.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja, thank you so much for bringing so many of us to Srila Prabhupada and your service. thank you so much for bringing love and grace on us. Guru Maharaja, I have two questions. So my first question is what is the meaning or the value of a soul being born in conditions favorable for spiritual growth or Krishna consciousness, because it is not for random circumstance to be born into. There are so many who are not born into those favorable circumstances and have such deep struggle. So, one who is born and sometimes tends to take that favorable environment for granted. At a spiritual level, for that soul what does that mean that they have been born into a favorable environment?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, in the Bhagavad-gītā, Krishna says that the unsuccessful yogi, and someone who has made progress but he hasn’t become completely successful, śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ geheyoga bhraṣṭa sañjāyate, and take birth in the family of brahmans or wealthy people because being born in a wealthy family, then don’t have to worry so much about getting your necessities, you can be more free to do bhakti, and one born in family of devotee which is the best. So we should always appreciate the favorable circumstances and try to make the best in each of them. And sometimes if we don’t appreciate something, Krishna will take it away, learn to value what we had, so we want to come in that situation. So it is better to value and appreciate what we have and make the best of the Krishna consciousness.

Devotee: Guru Maharaja, my second question is probably little off-bit and discuss multiple times but I want to hear from you. What is the true meaning of initiation? What happens literally for that soul that what transformation happens? What does that fire ceremony mean and how does it change or evolve the relationship between a guru and śikṣā? And suppose that if that ceremony or that or entire proceed process is not valued like it is supposed to be by the śikṣā then how does it impact or affect the relationship between the guru and the śikṣā and how does it affect the guru?

Giriraj Swami: Well, at the time of initiation, it is a big topic, what is initiation? But at the time of initiation, the spiritual master takes the sinful reactions of the disciples because when one is still afflicted by sinful reactions, one can’t properly take up devotional service. So, Krishna says,

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Surrender to Him, He will free sinful reaction. Srila Prabhupada said that the spiritual master as a representative of Krishna, we have Krishna, he accepts the sinful reactions. And so the disciples should be very careful after initiation, not to engage in sinful activities. Srila Jiva Gosvami says that it released one’s sinful reaction when it bestows transcendental knowledge. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says, initiation gives the disciple a push forward but after that the discipline has to make efforts to continue the progress. Now, is there more? Okay, Priti [Unintelligible 02:20:14].

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. My question is related to my realization. So I think that all my spiritual desires by your mercy are fulfilled very nicely. So I would just say about the realization when you came from U.S to Mumbai and at the Juhu temple, you gave a class and we were sitting over there. And I just I really wanted to compliment you. And when you were sitting and then I was just looking at the bookstall, I said I am just sitting, let’s go and sell some books, guru Maharaja’s book. So I went to the stall and there was a man and I asked him, “You must buy this book, you should know how this temple has come up.” So he said, “Yes that was interesting, I must buy the book but to stand for one hour in that queue to get a sign from Maharaja, I am not going to do that.” So I said, “No, no I will go and get it singed in one minute.” I don’t know why did I say that I knew that it was not going to happen. So I just took that book [Unintelligible 02:21:50] and asked to sign the book, and this spiritual desire was fulfilled. Then I came to Vrindavan. The first day we reached, I was with my husband and you are going to Radha-Shyamasundara temple. As you were passing from the road where MVT is there, I told my husband, “We should go MVT first then we will go and take darshan.” So, “You are crazy, why you want to go MVT. If you want to eat something, we will take darshan and come to MVT, eat something over there.” I said, “No, no we will just go. We will take sauce-samosa and come back and then go to temple.” 

I had a very very strong desire to meet you, to see you, just to glance. So, we went inside the MVT and then I am seeing there, guru Maharaja is sitting there in the lawn and Madhava Prabhu’s kirtan is going on. I was so happy and then I got to dance with the Matajis over there and then we both came and met you. I am so thankful. So to say today when you were coming, there was a flower basket on table over here. And I said, I think we should pick up those flowers, and when guru Maharaja come, you should offer those flowers on his lotus feet. So Mataji like Maithali, she asked, “No, no we should serve guru Maharaja, we should keep it here only.” [Unintelligible 02:23:35] Somebody said, they are initiated. okay these flowers should be distributed so that it can be offered to guru Maharaja when you come and [Unintelligible 02:23:45] we should achieve, you should let us later I mean now they are going to get over and I won’t have any flowers so for. So, somehow I got the flower and I was the first one to offer. Guru Maharaja, now my question is, I am very happy they are all being fulfilled but there are also material desires. So, I want to ask you, should I shift my attention from spiritual desire to material desires or should I just stick on to spiritual desires and Krishna will automatically fulfill my material desires?

Giriraj Swami: As the devotee mentioned earlier, I will explain a little more clearly. So there is a devotee in Santa Barbara name Griva Hari Priya and he was living in a very small rented flat and his parents in San Francisco said they would pay for him to get a house. He couldn’t find one available. So I asked him, “Have you tried praying for it?” And he said, “No, how can I pray for something material for myself?” So I said, “Well, you can even pray the conception of it that you want a better facility for your deity, post devotees, where you can have programs. And if you are praying for a facility for devotional service is not material but spiritual. But then he started to pray and then right away, you found the house. So now, what about your material desires?

Devotee: Yes, I know it will be fulfilled. 

Giriraj Swami: We dovetail in Krishna consciousness. Yes at the back.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja, praṇāma. My question is that sometimes in someone’s life a lot of responsibilities come up suddenly that a person starts to work. It is not working as a very mechanically and in the end, the person thinks that I am a doer. A lot of responsibility comes all of a sudden and to achieve perfection, the person starts working mechanically and in the end, the person thinks that I am the doer. So how do we come out of it?

Giriraj Swami: Well, we have a lot of responsibilities, we have to discharge them. But this thinking that you are the doer is not accurate because you are not. There are five factors to action and one of the endeavors but there are other factors, and the ultimate is the Super Soul. And without the sanction of the Super Soul, you cannot be successful in anything. You should be mindful of the fact that whatever effort you are making is well and good, you must make your effort. But ultimately you depend on the mercy of Krishna to be successful. You should always be mindful of how dependent you are on Krishna.

Devotee: So the word is mindful, keep reminding a person himself to be mindful that Krishna is a controller because when the person is working, he is just working, he will not remember that. But the person has to be reminded again and again that Krishna is the control and that is how the person will come back.

Giriraj Swami: Yes.

Devotee: That is the only way out to remind you.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, the two go together and you are working but at the same time, you are conscious that you are dependent on Krishna. There is a verse, towards the end of the Bhagavad-gītā, ‘In all activities and for their result depend on Me,’ Krishna says.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. This is regarding chanting at home. When I go to maṅgala-ārati sometimes but this is not happening now that I try every day to go for maṅgala-ārati. And then when I chant, I am less distracted, and at home, I am more distracted. So I try every day, is it because of I have lost enthusiasm or what? I am not able to go because the distance is twenty to twenty-five minutes’ drive from my house. So, what do I do? I see many people who chant even at home and they are okay, they preach and do everything but I am not able to get that.

Giriraj Swami: Well, if you can go to the temple for maṅgala-ārati and chant with the other devotees there, that is ideal. Otherwise, do you stay with any other people who chant?

Devotee: No, my husband chants very little. whenever he goes for a walk, he will chant. Otherwise, he doesn’t chant.

Giriraj Swami: All right. Anyway, rise early and you if can go to the temple for maṅgala-ārati and chant early in the morning or chant in front of your alter.

Devotee: Because I have to drive alone and it is very early. So, that thought makes me but once in a while I go then it is really, the whole day goes very well when I chant in the temple.

Giriraj Swami: He accompany you?

Devotee: No. he doesn’t.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Yes, if you can’t go to the temple, then get up early to chant in front of your altar, chant in front of Tulasi and whenever your mind wanders, bring it back to the sound.

Devotee: It is more destruction; it takes a longer time to do. I don’t get up on fix timing sometimes it is four, sometimes it is five, sometimes it is six.

Giriraj Swami: Four is good, five is okay, six is not.

Devotee: We have to do maṅgala-ārati also every day at home because that will take takes time? You have to do the maṅgala-ārati and then chant is it better. I have experience here.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. You do the best you can in these circumstances. Where do you stay?

Devotee: I stay at Khar and the temple is about twenty-five minutes’ drive. I have to drive that clears reality; how will I drive to the temple?

Giriraj Swami: Okay.

Devotee: I have your blessings and mercy; I think that it happens.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. Shanti Priya.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Guru Maharaja, I had a question that about [Unintelligible 02:33:50]

Giriraj Swami: Well, I guess don’t pay attention to them. I don’t know exactly what you mean by bad thoughts. Once Bhavananda Prabhu said to Srila Prabhupada, sometimes terrible thoughts come in his mind that are not at all the way he is, and could it be that some ghost has been influencing him. Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, it is possible.” But don’t identify with those thoughts, don’t act on them.

Devotee: Thank you very much, may I ask one more question.

Giriraj Swami: Oh, okay.

Devotee: I have a question on charity guru Maharaja. So we know by your mercy that the best charity is to give Krishna conscious devotees and then there are other levels of charity. But sometimes if you have to do charity like when you are giving charity, for example, in India, especially we see a lot of people in a materially very bad condition and then you can give them charity then is that okay? What is your favorite mood in engaging in charity?

Giriraj Swami: Do you give to individual?

Devotee: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: And what do you think they will do with the money?

Devotee: Sometimes we don’t know; they could possibly use it for all things but I wouldn’t know it.

Giriraj Swami: It is better to bring them to Krishna consciousness. In the old days in Bombay, street urchins would come up to us and beg, and so I would always carry prasāda from the temple. When they would come to the window to beg, I would give them prasāda. They were happy and it was good for them spiritually also.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. [Unintelligible 02:37:10] it has been on my mind for a while. If I think King Kulasekhara, kṛṣṇa tvadīya-padapaṅkaja-pañjarāntam. In that verse, couple of verses like that how life can change by holy name when my throat is chocked that kapha-vāta-pittaiḥ. That is one which passing by my mind. At the same time, Yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvam tyajaty ante kalevaram, whatever we think at the time of our death, we attain that state. And third and last thing that Krishna says, anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram, think of Me without any second thought. So, when I learned all these things, I was feeling, how can I get that? Another thing is that [Unintelligible 02:38:05] if I chant chant, it is smaran, anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram. Krishna also says, satataṁ kīrtayanto mām. [Unintelligible 02:38:25]

Giriraj Swami: Well, you can chant, that is well and good. But also in the Bhāgavatam, ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ, to remember Narayana or Krishna at the time of death. I think someone mentioned earlier that at the time of death we will tend to think of what we are most attached to. I have a godbrother named Vaikunthanath. He is older godbrother who is in the Boston temple and he described an incident when he was driving his car and the car stalled on the railway tracks. And he was fiddling and trying to get the car to work and then he saw a train was coming and the train was going to hit him. So, he thought Well, this is it, this is the end. And he it started to chant Hare Krishna. And then the train hit, and at the last moment he thought What will happen to my wife? And then he became unconscious and fortunately, he lived to tell the story. But yes, we are meant to be attached to Krishna. And ideally you would be surrounded by devotees chanting and helping each other to remember Krishna, but that is ideal. But once Tamal Krishna Goswami said to Srila Prabhupada, “I am so busy serving you, what if death comes and I am just engaged in service to you and I am not able to remember Krishna?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “Lord Chaitanya will forcibly enter your mind.” So, yes if you really dedicate yourself to devotional service, you get help from higher authority.

Devotee: Thank you so much Maharaja. I am just curious to know what form of Krishna you attached to, like your deity, Radha-Shyamasundara, Ramanji? Which one are you attached?

Giriraj Swami: Radha-Rasabihari. [Laughter]

Devotee: Deities are so powerful. My spiritual journey started with Radha-Rasabihari. But the form of Krishna that I was really attached to was the divine couple, the painting. And every time I close my eyes, I want to think of Krishna, it is just a divine couple. So, is it okay to kind of be so attached to the painting of Krishna? Is it all right?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. That is also a deity. One of the nine types of deity is paint.

Devotee: That is perfect. So, I made a special request to Chaitanya to Ramananda, every hour I am reading my last level, please ensure that the divine couple is right in front. Thank you, Maharaja.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. Thank you so much for sharing the story of accident, it was very inspiring. I have not yet started but reading a lot. [Unintelligible 02:43:25] So I want to know from you how do we get motivated to be on the journey?

Giriraj Swami: What do you mean by the journey?

Devotee: ISKCON journey, the spiritual journey. To be motivated to stay on that path.

Giriraj Swami: You mean to engage in the practice of bhakti-yoga?

Devotee: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: You are associating with devotees or not?

Devotee: Not so much. Since Lakshmi ji, since she is my [Unintelligible 02:44:05], so get to hear lot of stories from her and we have attended some classes.

Giriraj Swami: Okay. And do you ever go to the temple?

Devotee: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: And what you do at the temple?

Devotee: We pray. I love to, I love the kirtan, sometimes dance. I really enjoy.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, well, that is good. But you are saying that you do those things but you don’t take any of the practices home with you. Is that what you saying?

Devotee: Yes. That is right. So I do hear stories, I do read books. But then when it comes to my daily life, I just move on as usual.

Giriraj Swami: Do you read at home or you are talking at the temple on the satsaṅga?

Devotee: I do read at home, but then not very regularly since I distracted by social media [Unintelligible 02:45:22].

Giriraj Swami: All right. And have you ever chanted on Mala?

Devotee: Yes. I have done that. I was doing it regularly since [Unintelligible 02:45:33].

Giriraj Swami: Well, according to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, if you have a child, you are responsible to see that the child doesn’t have to take birth again. And you can only do that if you are Krishna conscious. So you are not fulfilling your duty as a mother if you are not delivering your dependent from the repetition of birth and death. And you can only do that if you are devotee yourself. So it is part of being a mother. And yes, come over here and get Lakshmi’s association. Association is very important.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. Please accept my respectful obeisances. How did you first meet His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaja?

Giriraj Swami: Why do you ask? I am happy to answer but I am just curious why you asked?

Devotee: Curiosity.

Giriraj Swami: Yes, so we had a pandal program at Cross Maidan and his name was Raghunatha Patil then. So Raghunatha attended the pandal and he liked it and he wanted to join. And he thought that the way to join was to submit an application letter like when you applied for a job. So, he went to a typing school and he had them type up his application. And in his application, he took the phrases from our publicity at the pandal program like ārati, sumptuous prasāda. And then he came to the Juhu temple, small temple we had then. And he delivered the letter to me. And I read the letter, and I held it over my head and I said, “Prabhus, we have a new bhakta.” And that was the first meeting.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. Daṇḍavat praṇāma. Maharaja, can share the pastime of Radharani and Krishna [Unintelligible 02:49:35]. And I am just thinking sometimes even in the material world when you are too familiar, even with your parents, sometimes we take them for granted with your siblings and that often reflects even with a devotee when you are too familiar to them. You tend to sometimes disrespect them or say something. So how can you get rid of that and right now because that is a lot that happened, like I regret sometimes at the way I suppose we will learn on sometime when I was a kid or I disrespected her and even though. [Unintelligible 02:50:15]. So I was just thinking of that way.

Giriraj Swami: Do you apologize after you say something you feel you should not have said or should not have said it in the way you said it?

Devotee: I am bad at that.

Giriraj Swami: Well, it is one or the other. Either you have to correct your speech or you have to apologize for your wrong speech, you can’t do neither.

Devotee: No guru Maharaja. [Unintelligible 02:50:55].

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Guru Maharaja, I wanted to ask that sometimes, I lack enthusiasm in my sadhana, in my Krishna consciousness. What is the easiest and the best way to come back to that level of enthusiasm?

Giriraj Swami: Well, Srila Prabhupada said a couple of things about enthusiasm. One is that if you follow all the rules and regulations, you will be enthusiastic. And also, if you associate with devotees who are enthusiastic then their enthusiasm will spread to you, but enthusiasm is necessary. For success in any field, enthusiasm is required. And in Upadeśāmṛta, Rupa Gosvami quoting, utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt. I think read that verse from the Nectar of Instructions, it might help you with your enthusiasm.

Devotee: Hare Krishna guru Maharaja. Please accept my humble obeisances. Over the years, I have seen a little bit of conditioning. Earlier if we travel, go for yatra then all I would be comfortable with even basic arrangements there. But now I would want better facilities as I am growing up and at least a little bit conditioning is there. As far as the overall life thing also, like the level of austerity that I would be able to perform that burned down significantly.

Giriraj Swami: Are you comfortable with that? [laughter]

Devotee: I feel it is okay but I get scared if I am attached.

Giriraj Swami: How old are you?

Devotee: Thirty-two.

Giriraj Swami: You are not too old for austerity. So do you miss out on yatras because you are afraid of the austerity?

Devotee: No, I continuing going for yatra. [Unintelligible 02:54:35]

Giriraj Swami: But you still go on the yatra?

Devotee: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: Okay, all right.

Devotee: Another question just in relation to lifestyle only. Balancing between, in terms of finance, they said that devotee should be like grammatical lens not collect too much and I get carried away also to the devotees and all that. Many times, I want to spend more and more Lakshmi when there is an opportunity to serve. But at the same time, it is recommended that you have a long life and you should save for the future etc.

Giriraj Swami: You are saying that you like to spend your money in devotional service and not save for the future?

Devotee: No, balance is there but sometimes you get in those picks that you could save or you should spend that way. And sometimes it is like the opportunities now. And you just don’t spend now, then something like that. But it won’t be practical if everything is gone now, getting a fixed and get confused.

Giriraj Swami: Well, from the example of Rupa Gosvami, he spent 50 percent in devotional services, then 25 percent for family members, and he kept 25 percent of the future emergencies. So I guess you could keep that in mind and see to what extent you can apply it. Okay.

Devotee: Maharaja, it is said that spiritual master takes the sinful reactions at the time of initiation. I was thinking, what happens to spiritual master?

Giriraj Swami: What happens? He suffers. I used to feel it at time of initiation, I don’t feel it so much now. Occasionally, I felt it in the form of about getting a little sick before the initiation. So, the way I took it as Krishna gave it to me before the initiation so that at the initiation and after the initiation, I could be in the condition to serve to devotees. Srila Prabhupada, in his talk with Mark Cohen which is recorded in the book Perfect Question, Perfect Answers, Srila Prabhupada said that, “If the spiritual master takes too many disciples that are not qualify for service, he suffers.” And that is why it is a general structure, regulative principle in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu that the spiritual master should not take too many disciples because he has to absorb all that sinful reactions. But then after initiation, he shouldn’t engage in some sinful activity. But if they do, the spiritual master on some level and in some way, he will suffer for it.

Devotee: Another question that comes up, why do Krishna give suffering to His devotee?

Giriraj Swami: You mean, from the spiritual master taking the sinful reactions? Srila Prabhupada said that Krishna can take away the sinful reactions to save the spiritual master from having to suffered them. But he also said, sometimes that Krishna allowed the spiritual masters to suffer as a reminder to the disciples that they should be very careful, not to commit sinful activity.

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. [Unintelligible 03:01:00]

Giriraj Swami: As I mentioned, ādau śraddhā, first is faith. By following the instructions of Krishna and paramparā, you should feel the result and then that will increase your faith. And also, associating with devotees who have faith, that will also increase your faith. But faith is the most important factor in Krishna consciousness. In the verse in the Bhagavad-gītā, aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā, that one who lacks faith cannot be successful and not become happy, not able to achieve ultimate destination. So you have Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, so look up faith in the index and read about faith, and it should increase your faith and it will also alert you to the consequences of not having faith. Do we have a Gītā here? Okay.

Bg 9.3

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā
dharmasyāsya paran-tapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani

TRANSLATION

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The faithless cannot accomplish this process of devotional service; that is the purport of this verse. Faith is created by association with devotees. Unfortunate people, even after hearing all the evidence of Vedic literature from great personalities, still have no faith in God. They are hesitant and cannot stay fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus faith is a most important factor for progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said that faith is the complete conviction that simply by serving the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one can achieve all perfection. That is called real faith. As stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.31.14),

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā

“By giving water to the root of a tree one satisfies its branches, twigs and leaves, and by supplying food to the stomach one satisfies all the senses of the body. Similarly, by engaging in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord one automatically satisfies all the demigods and all other living entities.” Therefore, after reading Bhagavad-gītā one should promptly come to the conclusion of Bhagavad-gītā: one should give up all other engagements and adopt the service of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. If one is convinced of this philosophy of life, that is faith.

Now, the development of that faith is the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There are three divisions of Kṛṣṇa conscious men. In the third class are those who have no faith. Even if they are officially engaged in devotional service, they cannot achieve the highest perfectional stage. Most probably they will slip, after some time. They may become engaged, but because they haven’t complete conviction and faith, it is very difficult for them to continue in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have practical experience in discharging our missionary activity that some people come and apply themselves to Kṛṣṇa consciousness with some hidden motive, and as soon as they are economically a little well situated they give up this process and take to their old ways again. It is only by faith that one can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As far as the development of faith is concerned, one who is well versed in the literatures of devotional service and has attained the stage of firm faith is called a first-class person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And in the second class are those who are not very advanced in understanding the devotional scriptures but who automatically have firm faith that kṛṣṇa-bhakti, or service to Kṛṣṇa, is the best course and so in good faith have taken it up. Thus they are superior to the third class, who have neither perfect knowledge of the scriptures nor good faith but by association and simplicity are trying to follow. The third-class person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may fall down, but when one is in the second class he does not fall down, and for the first-class person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness there is no chance of falling down. One in the first class will surely make progress and achieve the result at the end. 

Giriraj Swami: There is more but the last sentence in the purport:

Thus faith is very important in the discharge of devotional service.

Giriraj Swami: So, what are you going to do? Yes, that is association. Srila Prabhupada said, 90 percent of Krishna consciousness is association. That is what that purport says, faith is developed in the association of devotees.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 03:11:05] can you explain about that

Giriraj Swami: It is pretty clear. Mr. Nair, he arranged for me to sit close to a prostitutes. I didn’t know she was substitute. And she was putting her hand on my upper leg. And so I was young man, I was getting agitated. And under that extreme circumstance I could have considered giving in to it, but then I thought if I did, it would affect Srila Prabhupada, it would affect his movement, his mission.’ And I felt, I just cannot do anything that would hurt Srila Prabhupada. So, no. And she would come afterwards, afterwards she would come around and look for me but I avoided her. 

Devotee: I have the mentality of taking risk, trying to test my own limits like ‘I could do that also, let me try this.’ But I end up sometimes hurting myself in any decision or any service or anything. And then I have to see some little consequences, right.

Giriraj Swami: That doesn’t sound very intelligent. Why do you do that? Well, they say it is better to be safe than sorry. And Srila Prabhupada said, “If one complaint about his disciples is that they are not enough afraid of maya. So you should be afraid of maya, you shouldn’t play with fire. All right. So if there are no more questions or comments, Raseshwar Prabhu what comes next? Prasādam, all right. Oh, there is one more question.

Devotee: My most humble obeisance to you dear Maharaja. The question I have is; how do we endeavor to remember Krishna constantly? For example, when I am chanting and doing all the other things like whatever singing in my own way in my tune this way and attending classes, Krishna is on my mind. But when there are people at home, when I have my friends or when I go out to eat pani-puri, Krishna has gone out of my system. I can’t even remember Him for a second, and I am not proud about that. I feel very unfortunate guilty about it. So how do I endeavor to remember Him constantly because I am thinking of the last journey at the time of my death, if this is the case, you tend to forget Krishna so easily, what will happen then?

Giriraj Swami: Smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇuḥ vismartavyo na jātucit, always remember Krishna and never forget Him. And so for that, you need the association of devotees. And do you have devotee friends?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 03:16:10]

Giriraj Swami: So, if you if you keep company with your devotee friends then you will engage in activities that will be favorable for Krishna consciousness. And I think you should stick to your principles. If you want pani-puri, okay, but have it with devotees and offer to Krishna, don’t just go out to indulge your senses, keep Krishna in the center. And since you brought up the subject of eating, that leads us into our next activity. Raseshwar Prabhu, she has already put us in the mood to eat by your question. So, what is next?

Devotee: Thank you guru Maharaja for coming to [Unintelligible 03:16:10]. Please bless us that we dedicate our lives in this place and in the service of Krishna and His activities.

Giriraj Swami: Wonderful!

Devotee: And there is one last thing one question how we can maintain this same mood when we are around with the devotees in your absence in Mumbai? How we can maintain the same mood when you are not around us.

Giriraj Swami: I am always with you.

Devotee: You really made us very very special Maharaja. It has so much devotees, it looks like a festival. We can do more and more festival.

Giriraj Swami: I try to make myself available on the internet. Through talks, through japa saṅga, other ways, you can get association. So now, someone should lead us in the prasāda prayer. Okay

Devotee: Hare Krishna devotees, I think behalf of all of us, I would like to express all our gratitude to Srila Giriraj Swami Maharaja. “Haribol!” I did not expect such an amazing heartwarming exchange between the devotees, and guru Maharaja. It was just so amazing to hear all the questions that asked to, guru Maharaja’s most amazing answers inspired by Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. So, thank you very much guru Maharaja for wonder exchange. We are really sorry it is so late, but it has been so wonderful. Many of the questions that have been asked, they are coming from guru Maharaja’s heart. And in many ways, he gave, maybe summarized answers to many of them. But I also wanted to present the audio boxes where we can get practically all our questions answered if you are in many wonderful ways these are one thousand lectures that guru Maharaja is here. Over one thousand one hundred hours of his instructions, and recollections, and inspiration from Prabhupada as well. All devotees want to please spiritual master. We only have seventeen of these audio boxes here. So please do take it on this most suspicious day, the beginning of spring, Vasant Panchami. We can constantly hear from Srila Prabhupada and guru Maharaja then we will be having a festival every day. Guru Maharaja always be available.

So, please do there is only seventeen and I think there is sixty of you here, so please no rioting, no fighting. Much more are welcome in the next few weeks and months in Bombay. Please take advantage of that. You may see [Unintelligible 03:21:25] Prabhu for it. Also, one very wonderful service and one of our very dear godsisters that Her Grace Madhan Mohan Mohini, she has offered all of us as the community and ISKCON, is the sharing of her heart and her journey in Krishna consciousness in the form of this book, a journal called Twice as Bright. We also have some copies here also with, Advaita Hari Prabhu, would you show them. Please get this, it is a wonderful account of our journey, very honest, very inspired and very much helpful to us, we can all identify with it in many many ways. Of course, her experience is in some ways material much more extreme than ours physically speaking, so we can see what she is going to read into the inspiration away from her project. So please do the episode as well. Thank you very much.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Srila Giriraj Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

Giriraj Swami: So, are you going to lead us in the prasāda prayer. They were all appointed to you as if you are the expert.

[Singing mahā-prasāda prayer]

All right, I wish you all the best good evening.