General Questions Answers | Rus-Split | 1992 | Śrīla Gopāl Kṛṣṇa Goswāmī Mahārājā

PRASAD RAVAL. So if we don't have any older mataji to take care of the matajis, then you have to have some new mataji take care of the new matajis. And the new matajis will become old matajis. Otherwise, you have to import some old mataji from the other yātras. And if you want to import some matajis, you have to, you have to speak to the local leaders in those areas. What else?

Yes, Rua. Is it possible to cheat demons?

Devotees who cheat demons? Devotees don't cheat anybody. Devotees are always honest.

So the father wants him to stay at home and help with his management, and but he want— he wants to leave.

But on another hand, we have to respect all of our parents and offer everything Everybody's father wants him to live at home, not just in your country, but in India, America, everywhere. So if you're determined for spiritual life, you have to do what is best for your spiritual life. You should accept that situation which is favorable for spiritual advancement, and if some situation is unfavorable, you should reject it.

What about, uh, respect to parents?

You should be respectful, but respect doesn't mean you have to do when something is spiritually wrong.

You live in temple or you live at home?

Well, for devotees generally in these Russian republics Because now I don't know what name to use. Previously we used to use the name Soviet Union, and now we have to come up with a new name. So we have a policy that only initiated devotees can go on pilgrimage, but if you want to go on your own, then it's— anyway, so that is our policy.

Yeah, 3 of them came Moscow, in Kyiv. Okay. And they even near the Shilastatsileno, and they cannot, they have written Prāṣādhara, you can wash, place your boots and sleep there, and it will be taken care of. So they ask them what is right attitude, what should we do?

Of course, the problem for Vipin Prāṣādhara Prabhu is probably there's no place to stay. Not that Vipin Purandara wants to be rude with you. So I can speak to Vipin Purandara Prabhu and find out what to do with visiting devotees. I feel bad that if you came all the way to see me or hear me speak and there's no place for y'all to read, to live.

And one, one of them, somebody stole boots.

So Because it's cold, I can't even tell you to live underneath the tree. So if somebody stole the boots— it happens all the time in India. I did not know it happened here also.

Try not to do prajalpa.

Actually, one should never do prajalpa, not just in the morning. It is not in the morning you can do. In the evening you can do prajalpa. Prajalpa for devotee is poison. I think what you mean is Sometimes in the morning you don't like talking to anyone. So that is good principle. In the morning you should first finish your japa, then talk or eat prasad. But prajalpa should be avoided all the time. Prajalpa means topics that are not related to Krishna. So for devotee, prajalpa is poison.

Yeah, we know that there is Namahata program established by Guru Tukaram Goswami and many fans, communities. We want to know situation in our country good enough to do this thing? Namahat and farms communities.

Well, Namahat was a program that was given by Thakur Bhakti Vinod. Namahat program means that Thakur Bhakti Vinod said, just like in every corner you have a shop, can buy cigarettes and sense enjoyment, so in every corner there should be a place from where the holy names of the Lord can be distributed. So you already have Namahata centers all over Russian republics. You have people who do satsangs in home, that is Namahata. And regarding farm communities, yes, we are ready to start farm communities if we come across a good farm. But the details of the farm community will have to be worked out with the local leaders because the situation is going to be different from city to city to city.

When you—

well, I'm just sending someone to get my tickets today, so by today evening I will know. But I think I will be there next Monday. This time I'm on a very short trip because I have to leave Moscow on 12th of February for India because the GBC meetings are starting in Mayapur. So when I come back in, uh, end of March or April Then I will go to some of these other cities where you're inviting me.

Yes, well, known that where your devotees— it's been down there. Is it Kali Yuga, um, affected?

Well, from a spiritual angle, Vrindavan is never affected, but from a material angle, the people living in Vrindavan, India today have become contaminated. It is not Vṛndāvana that is contaminated, but the people who are living there are contaminated. In other words, the people living there are not all that— are not pure. But there are some pure, but most of them are pretty polluted these days.

Is it possible to say that Moscow is kind of Vṛndāvana because there is some devotee?

I would say this Moscow center is in Vaikuntha. Prabhupāda said all our centers are in Vaikuntha. Wherever Kṛṣṇa is glorified, that place becomes Vaiṣṇava. But when you go out preaching, don't invite the local people to come to Vaiṣṇava because they won't understand it. You will have to give them the address because nobody will understand where is Vaiṣṇava in Moscow. Only devotees will understand.

Okay.

Well, of course, the sadhana is going to vary from yatra to yatra, from temple to temple. Which, which kram are you from?

Kazan.

Kazan, Kazakhstan.

No, no, no, it's Russian. Kazan, Tajikistan.

But generally the sadhana should be— the schedule can be as follows. You should complete your japa at least 12 rounds before you go on s— best is if you finish all your rounds before you go on sankirtan, because if you complete your rounds before you go, then your consciousness will be high. And you should do book distribution for at least 8 hours a day, and then come home again and read Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa book, have milk and mala-kum and take rest. You must take rest for at least— take rest for 6 hours.

Make— you should just work. That's enough work.

Yeah, tell them, of course I am working, but I'm working for Kṛṣṇa. In the material world, in your country, people don't have work these days. I was reading an article that in 4 more months, by October of this year, 8 million people will be without work in Russia. So people don't have jobs. Even if you want a job, you can't get a job. But at Krishna's house, there are jobs for everyone. Outside, people may not get food. You come and live here, you'll get prasad every day without fail. So you should tell your father you're working, but you're working for the real Master, not the false master. And if your father says, where is your salary? Tell him you're getting spiritual pleasure and satisfaction. That is your salary.

He thinks that, uh, book distribution is not serious. How, how—

his father or he?

His father. And how he should talk, talk around?

First of all, you should not expect that your father will understand what is devotional service. If I don't have eyes and you tell me, please tell me what is red color, how can I do it? So why are you expecting your poor father to appreciate devotional service. It is your business to educate him to what is right. You should not be educated by him what is right.

Prabhu, can you talk about satsang of pastors?

You're talking about Grihastha Mataji or Grihastha man?

About them.

Well, you should try to— you must have mangala arati in the morning. If you cannot have it at 4:30, then have it at 5:30 or 6:00 and chant your rounds. Of course, if the housewife is taking care of young children Then she may have to chant her rounds later, depending when the child is not crying.

Yes. So what better than family broke, broke, uh, stay in the same, uh, city or go to the same city and continue to devotional service, or better to leave to another?

When you say family, you mean husband-wife family or parents and son family?

Wife, husband.

Well, it all depends if it is difficult for you to live in the same city. Then you can go to another city. It does not matter which city you live in. The important thing is you become Krishna conscious.

To him it doesn't matter. Does what matter?

You just— you decide. There's no hard and fast rule. If you can be Krishna conscious in the city where you live, then stay there.

He's from, uh, new, new city and there is no temple yet. And so his question was, is it better to go to, uh, other place where his temple already exists and live there, or stay in the same speak and try to arrange.

Well, it may be better that you first go and get trained in a big temple and then come back and start training others. There are no questions from the matajis. All the questions are just men.

So if everybody will go to the temples, nobody will work. Krishna won't give us food from skies.

Of course everybody will not go to the temple, so there's nothing to worry. Prabhupada was in Australia and somebody asked Prabhupada the question, what will happen if everybody becomes Krishna conscious, then who will run the factories? So Prabhupada said, don't worry, everybody is not going to become Krishna conscious.

Okay, yeah, that's the devotee just use work of other people.

Ah, no, a devotee doesn't use the work of other people because the devotee means one who works 8-9 hours a day minimum for Krishna. And during those 8-9 hours, one works very hard for Krishna. These temples are not places where people just sleep and eat. These temples are places where people get trained to work hard and preach for the Lord.

Our affection for the children, to our, uh, devotees.

Well, if you're attached to anybody, just work to make him Krishna conscious. You should preach to— but of course, this doesn't mean you spend all your time trying to preach to your children and you have no time for preaching to the public. Yes, then Mataji in the back.

She is new in Krishna consciousness and she has too much attachment. For example, she, she's a dancer and she wants to visit India and learn some dances, and she's asking, I'm an artist, I'm— so what's the best use for artists?

The wonderful thing about Krishna consciousness is that you can use all your abilities in serving Krishna. So if you're an artist, no problem, you can learn to dance for Krishna. You can use all your skills to serve Krishna. Only thing is what you do must be approved by higher authorities because they can tell you what is right, what is wrong.

It was just beginning of her devotional service and it was possibility to make dance for Krishna and she was so happy that now she, she, she can, uh, use her abilities to dance. And, uh, they performed dance and some devotees like this but some don't.

Anyway Just because you know how to dance doesn't mean that the dance has to be done in the temple. Generally in temples we don't dance, but sometimes if it's a public engagement, it's— that has to be discussed specifically. I can't give a general answer. Okay, more questions? Well, then you can make a practical schedule. My point was a devotee should not be idle even for a minute. Of course you must read every day because chanting chanting and reading gives you the strength to fight Maya and do your service. Without attentive chanting and reading, it's hard to be able to fight Maya. So every devotee can individually arrange his schedule in consultation with his local authorities.

Sometimes a person takes in the temple and everything is okay, he is in a good mood yet, but sometimes there is bad mood and there is no desire to go to Mangala-Arati and some difficulties also What better to do in this situation? To continue your same thing for the next—

of course, you must realize that good and bad moods are there because we identify with the body. When your body gets what you want, you become in a good mood, and when you don't get what you want, you're in a bad mood. So our whole process is to not think about the body. And if you're interested in carrying out the orders of Guru and Krishna, then even, even if there is some difficulty, you should still execute it. So as far as possible, It is best to live with devotees because by living with devotees there's a good chance that you will not fall in Maya. And even if you are falling, the other devotees will help you to prevent you from getting drowned. If you're getting drowned in an ocean and you're all alone, you will sink fast. But if you're getting drowned in a beach where there are hundreds of other people, then if you're getting drowned, the others will run and save you.

So in half a year it will be become a soldier in army, let, let you know, or become a Krishna devotee? And should he just rely on Krishna, or should he try to, try to make— what you want?

Well, this question we will answer after half a year. Why worry now? I heard that the Russian army, they're reducing millions of soldiers. So why will they take new if they're reducing?

No question. Not soldier, but not general, but he's officer already. Yeah, yeah, officer. He will be officer in the army. His question is, what is better, to be officer in army or to be officer in Krishna army?

Obviously it is better to be officer in Krishna's army. In Krishna's army you can become a general very fast. And there is no risk of getting killed by bullets. Well, I'm only taking first-time questions. Yes.

Sometimes during book distribution, some other women come to here and tell that— Some other? —approach me and tell that we are sick, some other magician make us feel bad. Should she say that please read this book and everything get away, all sickness, all—

Yes, you're speaking the truth. If you read these books of Prabhupada, all sickness will go away.

Everybody problems will disappear by reading these books.

In Bombay, the book distribution marathon was little different from your marathon. In India, we have many businessmen who are life members, so we go to them and tell them, you please pay for 500 books, 1,000 books, and these books can be distributed to the people who work in your factory or to schools, colleges, students, poor people on your behalf. So I must say the marathon is little easier than your marathon because also the pagoda in Bombay was very good and here it was very cold. So I was telling the devotees in Bombay the difficulties and the austerities that you devotees have to experience. Of course we have devotees that go traveling in buses and put on tables just like you do over here. But there in one table you can only sell about 30 books, 30, 40 Bhagavad Gitas in one day. The problem in India is everybody thinks he knows Bhagavad Gita. They don't know, so they don't want to read. You tell them to take Bhagavad Gita, they say, oh, I already have Gita at home. There's so many bogus translations, but they cannot recognize the difference between Prabhupada's presentation and others. So I also went out for about 10 days in the Bombay Marathon because I was traveling to other cities also.

Isn't it that sometimes businessmen, businessmen can—

and didn't distribute and don't distribute? Well, many times the businessmen tell us to distribute on their behalf. Okay, so I'll only take questions for 5 more minutes because I don't want your devotees to not do your service today, otherwise my coming will be misunderstood.

So Dharma Yoga is for ignorant people, and those one for spiritual reason, it's Dharma Yoga just for formality.

No, in Bhagavad-gītā, out of 18 chapters, 2 chapters are called karma yoga— chapter 3 and chapter 5. Chapter 3 is karma yoga, chapter 5 is action in Krishna consciousness. So karma yoga means when you work for Krishna. Of course, karma yoga eventually becomes bhakti yoga, but in the beginning stages, you begin to offer the results of your work to Krishna.

He means not karma yoga, he means directly karmic reaction. So for those who have spiritual vision, karmic reaction doesn't affect.

For those who are working for Krishna according to direction of Guru Sadhu Shastra, they don't take on karmic reaction. But if you whimsically are doing what you want and you think it is for Krishna, then you may get reaction if it is not according to higher approval.

Okay, yeah. Benediction of Guru is gives us uh, for favor and fortune. And can you give your full blessings for book distribution?

Okay, uh, I want to finish quickly now.

So she chooses spiritual master, and how, how can we become more conforming our spiritual master? How can we develop our attitude to our spiritual master, devote to our spiritual master?

You develop love for the spiritual master by getting more and more attached to his instructions. There's no point in saying I love the spiritual master, I love, I follow the spiritual master, when you're going to do your own thing. And as you follow the instructions, automatically the love increases. Well, there's so many questions, I don't know what to do.

Yes, yeah, parents devoted, but they divorced and she doesn't understand why. And speculation that after divorce, your mother should work in a hard work and there is no time left for Lord service.

What to do? Well, maybe questions like this can be discussed in a private meeting instead of a big assembly.

Is it possible for devotees of Krishna to throw out the temple devotees of Shiva?

Well, in our temples, everybody who lives must accept Krishna as the Supreme God. And if they accept Krishna as Supreme God and they behave properly, then they can live, not otherwise.

You ask about not leaving, about is it possible to devotees of Shiva temple center, is it okay when devotees of Krishna—

Even Chinese visit that temple, so where is the question of non-Indi devotees of Shiva visit that temple? People are thrown out of the temple only when they misbehave.

Okay. She's in school. Is it okay for her to miss some lessons? Meet with spiritual master. Is it okay? For instance, today.

Well, you should ask your father the answer to this question. Kashi, why you wash at yet?

Yes. It's very bad mentality. That means that she have no great. She's not very strict. Sometimes she has fear that what did she do, that she lose devotion.

She has fear?

Yeah, she can speak. And other groups told her that it's very big.

To have fear that you may lose devotional service is actually very good, because if you have fear that bhakti may go away, then you will be careful. If you're thinking bhakti is guaranteed, it will never go away, then you may become careless. So devotee should always You should have fear that if I don't act properly, bhakti will go away.

They have problem with other devotees in the temple, they want to move to another temple, but they're not permitted by a local authority.

Well, you can first discuss this problem with your local temple president. If it still cannot be resolved, speak with a local GBC. Okay.

We are speculators. Yes. And what, what should we answer in this case?

Well, if they say the books are expensive, tell them you did not change to market economy, the Yeltsin government changed it. And if they say there's speculation, tell them we are not— the books are not speculating, but you are definitely speculating.

No question, but speculation was not By money, money, yeah, books are very expensive and we like, we take some money to last.

Tell them whatever profit we make, we use it for maintaining our temples and for preaching. Tell them in our bank account there's no dinghy.

You should tell that, uh, service to his pure devotees is more important than service to him himself. And please tell me how I can serve you.

Uh, which center do you live in? It's Ural. You stay in ashram or at home? So first of all, chant your rounds nicely, read proper books every day, and do service for 8 hours a day, for sake, whatever you can.

Okay, so if you live in a family, you have to earn some money for living, and 5,000 years ago it was easier.

So obviously, if you're living in a family, you may have to work, as you have said. So you can even work and still practice Krishna consciousness, no problem. Obviously, if you're living at home, you have to generate some income for your maintenance. But even if you're living at home and working, you must practice Krishna consciousness, chant your 16 rounds, read, and do everything else.—

that time when I work, make some disturbance for spiritual advancement. Work, work, work.

In English there's a saying, you cannot have your cake and eat it too. So if you want to live in family life, naturally you have to pay the price. Some difficulties will have to be there. So make the best use of a bad bargain, okay? Is that clear? Even if you're living at home, so do your rounds every day, read, and rest of the time you can do a job if you have to do.

She has books distributed, and now books are very difficult to distribute. First she distributed books for 8 hours a day, but now, more than 3 hours, you can't distribute more than 3 hours. Sometimes she has distributed 3 hours, and other times 25, so it's more, more time.

Just because books are little difficult to distribute because of high price, doesn't mean that you should reduce your effort. You should still distribute for 8 hours, if not more, because now you're getting scared. You go for 3 hours, you only sell few books, so you feel bad and you want to go back home. Krishna is pleased by the efforts you make and not always the result. So suppose you go out for 8 hours now and distribute 10 books, and previously in 8 hours you were distributing 100 books, you will still get the same credit. Okay, well, Prabhu, I think I should stop now because I want all of you to do your service also. How many devotees are in this assembly who are not from Moscow Vyātra? Not from Moscow, not from Moscow. Where, where are your devotees living? On the, on the streets, under trees? Different places. So now today in the daytime, did your devotees get prasada in the morning or you all are hungry? No. So what would you all do now in the day? I can't talk to you all all day, I'll get tired because I have to give two classes in the evening, and plus I have to do GBC work here. So what will you devotees do in the daytime? Samkirtan, kara show. Well, in the beginning you just absorb your mind in meditation, and one day Krishna may give you the opportunity to take part in it. Yes, there's a question. Okay.

Krishna says, aham bija-prasād-pitā, I am the seed-giving father of every living entity.

Krishna is our Eternal Father. He doesn't think bad about anybody. But that does not mean that when we do something wrong and you get punished by material nature, you accuse Krishna for that punishment. Sometimes there's a big discussion: is God biased or is he impartial? God is impartial. The suffering is there due to our sinful activities.

That's all.

No, it's a result of utilizing your intelligence. In other words, you begin the process of devotional service and you go on continuing it birth after birth. Just like all of you who are executing Krishna consciousness today, you are executing Krishna consciousness because in your previous births You had also executed devotional service, and now Krishna has given you another chance to perfect your devotional service so that you can return to the kingdom of God. Even a little effort in this direction, Krishna says, does not go in vain. Okay, last, last.

Allow to have himself in some mischievous way, you know, to act in the wrong way. And what we can Is it possible to accept someone as a devotee if his behavior is not good, if he is continuously making mistakes?

Okay, as I said, Kṛṣṇa doesn't interfere with the freedom of individuals. So we all have the freedom to behave properly or improperly, just like we have the freedom to follow the laws of the state or defy the laws of the state. A devotee, however, does not misbehave because a devotee acts according to śāstra. So devotee should be very careful how he behaves. When Sanatana Gosvāmī met Haridas Thakur, he said, "Some people chant and do not preach, some preach and do not chant, but you are chanting and preaching and giving perfect example of devotional service." So devotee must always be exemplary. Caitanya-caritāmṛta explains that through one's personal example, a devotee should convey the meaning of religious principles. So I'll stop over here because, as I said, many of you have to go home, it's late. I'll see you all tomorrow. Hare Kṛṣṇa! Śrī Ugra Pāda Kṛṣṇa maharaj ki cha—