With Jayapataka Swami

[Talk by Jayapataka Swami.]

Giriraj Swami: Well, I heard there is one more little part to this story. A devotee asked Srila Prabhupada, “How is it possible that we can go back to Godhead being only 70 percent Krishna conscious?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “I have the key to the back door.”

Devotee: How to do mahat-sevā? How to identify a pure devotee among the devotees whom we can serve?

Giriraj Swami: Yes, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says,

mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes
tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam

That serving mahat, great souls, the door to liberation is opened. But Srila Prabhupada had a disciple named Tusta Krishnadasa, who had been the follower of Sai who was initiated by Srila Prabhupada as Siddha Svarupa dasa. So, Tusta Krishna was saying that, Siddha Svarupa is a pure devotee and he should be served. And Srila Prabhupada responded that, Siddha Svarupa is a good soul but we should not make faction, that Siddha Svarupa is only pure devotee and others are not. Anyone one who is serving sincerely his spiritual master is a pure devotee whether Siddha Svarupa or not Siddha Svarupa. So, don’t make faction.

So, we should take every opportunity to serve devotees. We should not think that “He is pure devotee; I will serve him or he is not pure devotee so I will not serve him.” As Srila Prabhupada said, “Anyone one who is serving sincerely his spiritual master is a pure devotee.” Once someone asked Srila Prabhupada, “How many pure devotees are there in the world?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “How many devotees are there in ISKCON.”

Devotee: Hare Krishna. When we saw all the disciple of Srila Prabhupada are so loving, reciprocating with full heart, full of love, natural, it attracting our hearts so much. So, what is the secret of love between other godbrothers, all of you? What is your instruction for the next generation as we took initiation from so many gurus like father and uncle? So, how we can get that mood and love and affection and very heart felt reciprocation?

[Answer by Jayapataka Swami.]

Giriraj Swami: So, if we are ending now, which we are, then I think that we should conclude with Vaishnava praṇāma.

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca 

patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

Ananta-koṭi vaiṣṇava-vṛnda ki jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja ki jaya!