Important Lessons - Bhagavad Gita | 15 May 2020 | Zoom | Saudi Arabia | Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami

very serious. And those, we invited 2-3 families also. So mainly it is from Saudi. Uh, but so Vishnu Prabhu had arranged this. Vishnu Prabhu is, uh, he had requested Mohan Rupa Prabhu in one of the classes that, uh, you know, he, he has been working behind this. So Vishnu Prabhu is the one who had arranged this.

I can have Vishnu's darshan?

Vishnu Prabhu, can you please switch on your video?

Yeah.

Hare Krishna, Maharaj, Janmashtiram, Gauri Gauri Prabhu to your—

Okay, okay.

It is all great fortune to have you here. Means it is our once in lifetime wish has been fulfilled. We are so fortunate. This is the first time, I think, in the history of Saudi Arabia that we are having your live darshan. So it is our great fortunate and we thank you very much for your causeless mercy. We are so kind of you and His Grace Mohanubabu Prasad RAVAL who has very kindly arranged this. We are very, very fortunate today to have your darshan, Maharaj.

Okay, so what's the duration of this program? Maharaj, it's up to you.

Means generally it is 1 hour, but okay. As long as this nectar is coming out from your total mouth, we are ready.

I have a limitation. I have a limitation today. We'll make it maximum 1 hour. Okay. Hare Kṛṣṇa. So can all of you hear me clearly?

Yes.

Yes, Maharaj. I'm very happy to be speaking to all of you. All of you are very sincere. All of you are practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In an environment where it's not so easy. Everyone understand English? Is English okay?

Yes, Prasad. Everyone understand English.

So all, all of you are practicing Krishna consciousness in an environment where it's not so easy, a lot of restrictions, etc. So you are very sincere. That's why you're pursuing this path. As you can see today, the world today is in a very difficult position. Am I right? I had come to Saudi Arabia about a month ago, I think. No, to Kuwait. No, no, to Abu Dhabi. And we had a program there. But in the past one month, things have deteriorated more. People were thinking at one time this virus is going to have limited penetration. But now they're saying this virus is here to stay permanently. Ha, ha. It's not a temporary companion. And it's affecting, it's really affecting the lives of people. Never in the history has any illness or disease caused so much havoc. Of course, they had the Spanish flu. Who knows about the Spanish flu history? Okay, the Spanish flu occurred in, I believe, 1915. And for 3 years, and millions of people died. But they say this is more serious than the Spanish flu. And of course, nobody knows the cause. Prabhupāda explained in one of his lectures that the reason why these viruses and diseases come is because of our sinful activity. When society becomes sinful, when innocent cows are killed, innocent animals are killed, there is repercussion. Now the repercussion today is in every corner of the globe. At one time we thought this virus has just started in China. I remember when we were in Mayapur for the G.B.C. meeting this year. Devotees were saying, "Oh, this virus is only in China." Then it went to a few more countries. Today it's in every corner of the globe. I was speaking to some devotees from Africa a few days ago, and they said everything there is paralyzed. Everything is closed. We talked to devotees in America. Everything is closed. So all over the world, the impact has been so severe. And the full impact is yet to come. For example, the impact on the economy. Right now, as you know, every country is injecting trillions of dollars in the economy. Is that right? In Hindi, He just injected, what, ₹27 lakh crore piece or something. In America they've done, France, every country. How long can they go on injecting the money in the economy? You can print notes, but how long can you print it? If you print too much, then this currency will have no value. So the world today is in a very precarious condition, and people are hoping that they will come up with some solution, vaccination. Prabhupāda was talking to some devotees. He said the real vaccination is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. But their society will not readily accept Then that is the ultimate solution. So we can see, "Bhukhālayām asāśatam." There's nothing but misery and everything is temporary. So all of you are very fortunate you have come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You know the cause of the evil, the cause. You also know the cure. The cause we briefly mentioned. The cure also has to be a spiritual solution. So we should take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously. Many times we can see that there's so much misery, and for some time we get serious. Then we again overlook, ignore the seriousness of material life. So now you all can see misery can be very severe, and today the condition of society is such that almost no one is happy. Everyone is miserable in some way or the other. So we should take to the message of the Bhagavad-gītā very seriously. What are the major points of the Bhagavad-gītā? The Bhagavad-gītā establishes there is a God in control, Śrī Bhāgavānavaḥ. This Lord is the cause of all causes. And He may be known by different names in different parts of the world, but there is one God. Prabhupāda was in Iran in 1975, and I don't think Prabhupāda ever came to the Middle East. He did go to Iran in '75, and he had a meeting with one of the mullahs. They came to see Prabhupāda. He was with the aide of the Shah. So, Prabhupāda told them all, "Chant the names of Allah, no problem, but chant the names of God and follow the religious teachings." Prabhupāda often met during his travels Christian missionaries. He told them, "The Bible says, 'Thou shalt always chant the names of the Lord and follow the Ten Commandments.'" Then we have no problem. The real religion means following the laws of God. Bhagavad-gītā establishes there is God in control and His name is Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Īśvara-parma-kṛṣṇa sa cīrṇandava-graha na nādi-nādi-govindā bhava-karna-karna. Then the Bhagavad-gītā teaches you about the soul. This is in the second chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā. But you know, Thakura has said the second chapter of the Gītā is the most important. It summarizes the entire Bhagavad-gītā. Now what is this important knowledge? Important knowledge is about the soul. This is just like Just like in our clothes we cover the body, the soul is also covered by the body. And then some modern people may say, "What proof do you have there is a soul? I don't believe there is a soul." What is our proof? Our proof is consciousness. As long as there's soul in the body, there is consciousness. When the soul leaves the body, the body is pronounced dead, no value. So, Bhagavad Gita explains, for the soul there is never birth nor death. What is the measurement of the soul? Who knows? It's my question to you or to the audience. What's the measurement of the soul? They can't reply. What's the measurement of the soul? 1, 10,000? Are you people hearing me? Are you able to hear?

Yes, Maharaj.

Yes, Maharaj. I asked you all a simple question.

Hair of the tip of 1,000 times of the hair of the tip.

One ten thousand.

One ten thousand part of tip of the hair.

Yeah, not the length of the hair. If it was the length of the hair, the ladies would have bigger souls than the men. And then the yogis, the yogis would have bigger souls than the men. Once I saw a picture of a yogi, whose sikha was 1 kilometer long. So if it was 1/10,000th of the tip of the hair on the length, this yogi must be having a very heavy sikha, very heavy soul. 1/10,000th of the tip of the hair. And this information is not available in any other scripture. Only in the Vedas you have this knowledge. Now Why is it important to understand the position of the soul? Because once you understand that, you understand that the soul is eternal. And with death, all you do is change your body. Death is nothing but a change of dress. You change one dress, you wear another dress. This human body, or animal body, or flowers, they go through 6 stages of development, where they are born, they grow, they maintain themselves, they produce by-products, they dwindle, and they vanish. So the soul stays on in the body and transmigrates. And how is that decided? Everyone may say, "Oh, okay, I'm going to, I want to be born in a money family." That is determined by your actions. According to good karma, you take birth in a rich family. According to good karma, you take birth with a good education. You do good karma, you get a handsome or beautiful body. But all that is only temporary. Just like all of you are in, I can say, fairly comfortable positions. Why isn't everybody in the same boat? There is a history. That is the law of karma. So law of karma says, for every action, there's a reaction. So Bhagavad-gītā teaches you knowledge of the soul. Then the other next point is it teaches you, and the other important issue is action. Every action we perform has a reaction also. So we can perform karma, mīkarma, or karma. Karma means actions performed strictly for the pleasure of the Lord and for which you don't take on any reaction. Mīkarma means actions against the laws of God which take you for punishment. Then it's karma. Then it's You're performing for the pleasure of the Lord. Not completely unmotivated. So Bhagavad-gītā teaches us also the position of time. What does time do? I'm sure everybody has a wristwatch. Do you have a wristwatch also? These days you don't need wristwatches. You know why?

Why?

Who knows why? Because you have these cell phones. Because of the cell phones, the watch manufacturers are going out of business. Because of the internet, the newspapers are going out of business. And now because of cameras in every cell phone, the camera manufacturers in Japan are all going out of business. One man's food is another man's poison. So time, what does time mean? Krishna says, "Time, I am the destroyer of everything." You have a handsome body today. You get recognized as Miss World. But time will make sure your body doesn't remain handsome for long. You have a beautiful, you are part of a cricket team today. Tomorrow time will make sure your old body doesn't allow you to play. Time destroys everything. You buy a new car, after some time it looks old. Am I right? You buy new clothes, after some time it looks old. You have a young body, but sometimes it looks like an old body. The time destroys everything. Time should not be wasted. There was once a king called King Katuvanga. Can you hear me clearly?

Yes, Ma'am. Yes, Gurumaharaj, we can hear you.

Okay, because I have a bad throat today. So there's a king called King Katuvanga. He had helped the demigods in the battle against the demons. So the demigods were very obliged. They said, "Please tell us what we can do for you in exchange." And the demigod said, and the king, Kaduṣa, said, "Tell me how much more time." I have left to live. And the demigod said, "You just have one more moment left." And he said, the king said, "Please let me descend to the earthly planet. I can't think about the Lord by leaving this body." So by and large, no one knows when the end is coming. In Ram Rajya, few weeks ago we celebrated Ram Nami. We celebrated Ram Nami and later we celebrated Sita Rā. So in Ram Nami we discussed Lord Rāma's pastime. During Lord Rama's rule, people could choose their own moment of departure. They could choose their moment of death. And if they said, "We don't want to die today, tomorrow," okay. But now you don't have that choice. Death can come at any time. So what is the Bhagavad-gītā teaching us? Bhagavad-gītā says we have to perform action. You can't be inactive. Like if you are a householder, I imagine most of you in the audience are householders, so you have to have some livelihood. But we should act and work in the spirit of detachment. Just like a lotus leaf. A lotus leaf is in water but doesn't touch the water. Similarly, be in the material world, don't get affected by its temptations. Today what do you see in society? We see that maya is becoming easier and easier. Am I right? Yes, no?

Yes.

Yes, Maharaj.

Previously if you wanted to see a movie, You had to go to the movie house. If you wanted to gamble, you had to go to a Golden Casino. Now you can do everything, everything at home. Isn't it? So Maya is becoming more and more easy, and we have to be extra alert if we want to avoid Maya. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness means serving the Lord according to the instructions of the Lord. The process is very simple. First requirement is chant the names of the Lord. Kali-kali-nama-rupa-Kṛṣṇa-avatār. In Kali-yuga, the Lord descends in His holy name. So we encourage everyone to chant. How many of you are chanting? 16 rounds a day. Show of hands. Okay. Okay. Very good. Prabhupāda, when he first started his call, he told devotees to chant 64 rounds a day. But that time he only had American devotees. They tried it for 2-3 days and said, 'Swami, 64 rounds is impossible.' Prabhupada said, 'Okay, do 32 rounds.' They tried 32 for a few days, but they couldn't do it. They said, they came back and said, 'Swami, 32 is too much also.' So Prabhupada said, '16 and no less. Final.' So sometimes people say, 'Oh, Prabhupada brought it down from 64 to 16.' 16. Why don't you bring it down from 16 to 4? But he said, "No." Prabhupāda was the ācārya for the age. He had the power. We don't have that power. Our power is just repeat what we got from Prabhupāda in the books and lectures. So chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is nothing new. This mantra is being chanted since time immemorial. Sometimes people say, "It's too difficult." It's not difficult. If there's a will, there's a way. Then read the Gītā and the Bhāgavatam. Why do we read these books? For these books are spoken by the Lord. There is no difference between the Lord and His Holy Name. Sometimes people wonder, "How can you chant the same name of the Lord every day and not get tired?" We don't get tired because the Lord has injected all His potency in the Holy Name. We can chant day and night and not get tired. And then reading the books. Reading the books gives you spiritual tonic, which is very, very necessary. So take advantage of that and then associate. I see that you, many of these devotees, are very keen to get association. And whenever you meet someone senior, you invite that person. So spiritual association is very helpful. You can associate with those who are more advanced than you, equally advanced, and less advanced. You meet somebody more advanced, you become joyful, because you're going to hear something that's going to help you. You meet somebody equally advanced, you make friendship. Friendship in spiritual life means we work together to serve the Lord. And you meet somebody less advanced, you display compassion. So these are the requirements, and eat Kṛṣṇa prasāda. So I imagine all of you are in a difficult situation, but not so difficult. Things are better now, and the world is getting more and more liberal, and you all can see how much misery there is in life. So please take to the spiritual life seriously and experience realness. Hare Krishna. So now I leave time for questions because I find that in these programs you are more keen on asking questions than just listening to the philosophy. Am I right? Is that right, Vishnu? People are more keen to ask questions.

Yes, we can open for question and answer. Whoever want to ask question, they can raise their hand in the Zoom application, then we will call their name, then they can ask.

Okay.

Is that okay?

Yes, Guru Mahārāja.

Yes, Guru Mahārāja.

Okay.

Or you want to coordinate all the questions? What do you prefer?

Shyama Vallabha Mātājī, you can go ahead, ask your question. Shyama Vallabha Mātājī.

Hare Krishna, Guru Mahārāja. Dhanu Prasad Raaval.

Please switch off their mics. Whoever is not asking can switch off their— keep them on mute. Please raise your hand and we can ask.

Yes, go on.

Yes, how are you?

From Bangalore.

From Bangalore? What are you doing in Dubai, Saudi Arabia?

How are you, Maharaj?

Are you in Bangalore or are you in Saudi Arabia?

I have one question, Maharaj. When we see political situation, our mind gets so much disturbed. Like Palghar lynching, when I saw, I became so much disturbed. Why this thing happened to the sadhus? Why Krishna did not save them? Such things like, my mind got so much disturbed because of all these political things.

You can't blame Krishna for all this. You can't blame Kṛṣṇa for the miseries of life. We ourselves are digging our own grave. And it is unfortunate what took place. We don't mean, but, but that is Kali-yuga where there are many discrepancies. And of course everybody gets reaction. So we, People have no understanding of dharma and they pretend to be religious. We strongly condemned the attack on the sadhu, but what can we do?

And Guru Mahārāja, one more thing, how to increase humility? Like sometimes we do something so we get puffed up. How to reduce that?

Like If you want to advance spiritually, you have to pay a price. Krishna says, "Surrender to Me, then I will protect you." So if you want to advance spiritually, you want to be humble, then follow Lord Caitanya's advice. More humble than a blade of grass. Everybody walks on grass. The grass doesn't retaliate. So walk on the grass. So be humble. And if you try, God will help. Prabhupāda used to say, "You take one step towards Kṛṣṇa, He'll take 10 steps towards you." Okay. Are you all? Next question.

Thank you, ma'am.

Śrī Dvāratā Prabhu.

Where are you now?

Dhanvās Manahar, very, very dhanvās Manahar Mahārāja.

How are you?

My question is that how we can do the attentive chanting? As many times in many of the lectures you are insisting on attentive chanting because our mind is flickering and sometimes it tries to keep away from the place. And suppose if we are doing the chanting and doing no other work, is it called the attentive chanting? So what is the process of doing this attentive chanting?

Oh, very good question. You see, Prabhupāda said the mind will wander, cāntala-imanā-kriṣṇa. Arjuna said, more difficult to control the mind than the men. One thing you can do, when you sit down to do your japa, let that be your main activity. Not that you're doing japa with one hand, with the other hand answering telephone, with the other hand cooking prasād. And if you just concentrate on one activity, just like when you're eating, do you like doing other things while eating? Tell me. When you're eating your lunch, prasād, do you like being interrupted every minute? No. You say, "Shanti me khaneda vād mēyāna." So you should say, "Shanti me jap khaneda vād mēyāna." That's it. So simple. Give priority to the Holy Name. That's all. Okay?

Thank you very much. Thank you, Mahārāja.

Where do you live? You live in Delhi or you live in—

voice is not clear.

Shudhachandra Prabhu has joined from Delhi.

Yes, sir.

He's in Delhi right now from Panchil. Oh, I knew I seen you somewhere.

Okay, next question. Jayakrishna Chandra Prabhu and family, please go ahead. Tanishka Mataji is first. Jai Krishna Chandra Prabhu family, please unmute and ask.

Okay. Hare Krishna, Prasada Maharaj. How can we maintain steadiness in our sadhana? Because we being in grihastha life, often we are unable to maintain and that steadiness. So we keep flip-flopping sometimes. So, and how can we maintain that?

Where are you based?

I'm based in Saudi Arabia, Maharaj.

Okay.

In Riyadh.

Okay. So the solution is very simple. The key to everything is the chanting of the Holy Name. The Holy Name, the solution to all problems. And the cause of all problems. It becomes the key solution, the Holy Name is chanted regularly. So if you chant your rounds every day, read regularly, then you will remain steady. But if you become erratic, then your devotional service will also be erratic. The ācāryas have given us specific guidelines. Which Prabhupāda simplified for us. Just follow that system. We are chatting, and from what I can hear, you probably work in IT. Am I right?

Uh, yeah, in marketing, ma.

Okay. Anyway, even if you work in marketing, you probably work 9 to 5, or—

Yes, ma.

It's not as rough as it would be if you were in India. Yes.

Okay.

In India, life's a lot tougher. So you have time for chanting, reading, etc., isn't it?

Yes, yes, Maharaj.

So just take it on.

We follow, we follow regularly.

Okay, I can see that. You have a good tilak on. Okay, any more questions?

Uh, uh, please go ahead.

Hare Krishna.

Hi, myself, we are disciples of Param Puja. Maharaj, I have one question.

Where do you live?

You live in—

where do you all live?

Are you in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia.

So you are in Saudi Arabia right now?

Yes, Maharaj.

Okay.

Maharaj, in Srila Prabhupada's lecture, so many times we listen that it takes a moment of your life to surrender to Lord Krishna. Whenever we read Srimad Bhagavatam, from examples of Kunti Maharani or Prasad Maharaj or Druva Maharaj, we get inspired very easily by this surrendering process. But when we implicate in our life, we found it very difficult, Maharaj. What is that empowering force which doesn't allow us to surrender completely to Sri Krishna?

And what should we do? That personality that prevents you from surrendering to Krishna is called Maya Devi. You heard of Maya Devi? Maya takes on various forms: lust, anger, greed, enemy, hatred. So Krishna says, "Curb this great enemy with the weapon of knowledge." Knowledge means read these books regularly. So you chant and read regularly, then you will find your determination is getting stronger. Our ācāryas have given us everything in black and white. So there's nothing to worry about, nothing to speculate. We just follow the, follow what's there in Prabhupāda's books. If you chant regularly, read regularly, and serve, you will remain enthusiastic.

Always.

Is that right? You do your rounds?

Yes, Maharaj.

You do your rounds? You feel energetic? Yes, you feel energetic.

Okay, please go ahead. Leah Mataji, you're talking on mute. Go ahead, Mataji.

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj. This is Nandakumar's sister from Delhi.

Oh, you're also from Panchsila.

Yeah, I'm from Panchsila. Okay.

How are you doing?

I'm fine, Guru Maharaj.

How can I help you?

Just need your blessings. Like in every lecture I hear, you always say concentrate on chanting and read shastras. I do my chanting but not able to concentrate. I read shastras but just 5 minutes only. So please bless me and be merciful.

You're on the right track. Just stay on that track. Don't get diverted.

Thank you, Swamiji.

Next. Sanchita Mataji, please go ahead. Sanchita Mataji. When we are asking question, if it's possible, we should switch on our camera. Go ahead. Yes, we can hear you.

Let me know from where they are.

Yes, yes. Sanjita Mataji, can you switch on your— I see your raised hand. Yes, now we can hear you, Sanjita Mataji.

Yes.

While Sanchita Mataji is trying, let's— Neha Mataji, you please go ahead. Neha Mataji from Dubai, I see your raised hands. You want to ask something?

Hare Krishna Maharaj. I'm from Dubai and I get associated through Charul Mataji and Under her association only, I just started doing the 16 rounds.

Oh, charubhai, charubhai.

Started reading Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam also.

You're on the right track.

Yes, my Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj, only question I have regarding chanting actually. So, when I chant, 16 rounds is good, I feel better, but after sometimes like round finishing, like 6, 7, 8 rounds, then I feel it's mechanical and It's not going like it's, uh, even if it is mechanical, chant.

Chanting is so powerful. Even if you do it unwillingly, even if you do it unwillingly, it's still better. Just chant.

Please mute yourself if you're not talking.

So even if you feel it's mechanical, chant. You take a medicine, you don't know the components, but you take it and it works. So chanting will work. Doesn't matter what your motivation is, what your reason is, but just chant. Okay?

Jigurubandha.

Don't speculate, "Oh, is this mechanical? Maybe it's not mechanical." Yes, Jan. What do you, what do you do in Dubai?

Uh, Guru Maharaj, I'm working, uh, in a hotel. I'm a duty manager in a hotel, uh, working the Oberoi Hotel.

Oh, someone just told me yesterday the hotels are all empty everywhere.

Yes, Prasad Raavalji, but, uh, there is some operation work is still going on because it's not completely shut down because There is no guests, but still there is some process going on, audits and all that, so we have to go to work.

Someone told me in Vancouver, hotel rent was $600 per day. Now it's $50 a day.

Yes, yes, Giriraj.

This virus is going to have a whole— is going to create Whole new economy. The hotels, the planes, resorts.

Gurubhajan, we are actually severely affected because of the travel business. Only we'll get the business, that's the reason.

Yeah, now virus doesn't want you to travel much, and Zoom is doing a good job.

Gurubhajan, please, I'm seeking your blessings to go ahead with this, uh, spiritual path.

Okay, please. All right, Krishna.

Next, Krishna.

Uh, Sanchita, you can go ahead.

Sorry, this is Kumaar from Mumbai.

Go ahead.

Yeah, sorry, actually the name of that was Sanchita.

The children are crying in the back.

Switch on the video please.

Yes.

Pranaam Maharaj.

I have couple of questions. One is with the being associated as a devotee for the demigods in the last, you know, couple of, you know, cycles, or, you know, for at least more than 25 years, 26 years, whatever time I could recognize the bodies. Now I have translated myself towards Krishna consciousness, being associated with—

Where are you based, in Saudi Arabia or Dubai?

I'm from Dubai, Prabhuji. I'm associated with Hamsa Gokul Prabhu.

Okay, I think I saw you when I came to Dubai.

I'm just recently—

recently, uh, so what's your question?

So my question is, you know, being thinking that the demigods of all the years from now, and now I have transited to the Krishna consciousness, so it's, it's the transition itself is not, not very smooth, so So any help that can, you know, towards the smooth crossing of the— towards smooth devotee and smooth devotee towards Krishna?

Ah, I agree.

Secondly—

Let me answer one question first.

Yeah, Pranaji, sorry.

You see, we are all born in ignorance, and in a Hindu society They don't give us the right education. Śāstra says demigods are subordinate to the Lord. Sometimes you may think, "Oh, if I worship the demigods, they, they, if I worship the demigods, if I worship the Lord, the demigods will not be happy." They'll be very happy. Because demigods are assistants of the Supreme Lord. Just like when you water the root of the tree, You water all the branches. So when you serve the Lord, you serve all the demigods also. That is just a misconception. So we should read the Bhāgavatam. Then you get the right answer. In India, everyone is born and brought up in the atmosphere: "All gods are one. Take any path." All gods are not one. If you want to fly from Dubai to Bombay, is there a fixed route, or can you take route to London? Okay, okay.

Yes, uh, you have another question, Prabhu? Please go ahead, otherwise we'll move forward.

Kidness, like, uh How to become a non-complicated devotee towards Lord Krishna? Like, as I heard from somewhere saying that God loves people who are very disciplined and lovable towards God, not the complicated ones thinking about, you know, some politics involved or something like that.

Your children are very active.

It's all your blessings, Prasad.

No, is it daughter or son?

Daughter and a son, sorry, son and a daughter, sir.

Yeah, I'm the one who is making the noise.

It's a daughter. She is 2 and a half years old.

Yeah, it's okay. She is angry with me. So God is pleased with the sincere efforts of any of you. You are making a sincere effort. You are making a sincere effort and Kṛṣṇa is pleased by that. Even if you are a complicated brain, doesn't matter. You are trying to understand Kṛṣṇa, he is pleased. Just stay on the path, chant, read Gītā and take guidance from your friends. That's all.

OK. Hare Krishna, Gurumaharaj. There is a question on the chat window. I will read that question from Anup Dingra Prabhu. He is asking, should we only follow Bhakti Marga or both Bhakti and Jnana Marga can be followed? Please answer this.

The ultimate is Bhakti. Jnana means knowledge. And we may have knowledge, but knowledge, the real knowledge is surrender to God. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhāgavad-gītā, bhaktiyā mām abhijñānanti, "I can only be known by the path of devotional service." So devotional service includes jnāna-yoga, karma-yoga, etc. And devotion, bhaktiyoga means Use whatever facilities you have in service to the Lord. Do it with love. Bhakti-yoga is the ultimate and the supreme. Okay.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Krishan Prabhu, please go ahead.

Hare Krishna.

Hello.

Pranam Maharaj.

Yeah.

This is Krishna Prasad Raaval Das. I'm now from Sanatan Dham, Saudi Arabia.

Presently I'm here. Where?

In Sanatan Dham, Saudi Arabia. Okay, nice.

Very nice.

So we are very fortunate On 1st of May, Guru Mahārāja visited everybody's house in our sāntandaṁ. And we are so fortunate that we have your association today in this month of May. So this is very auspicious month for all of us. So we have association of great Vaishnava.

I think you had Jaya Pradāga Swāmī's darshan on Zoom.

Yes, house visit.

On Zoom, you have to thank the Chinese people for that. But they are so smart, they know how to spy on people. So now they can spy on everything. When it's gone, there's nothing to spy.

We are fortunate Marāṣis that— and actually I would like to tell a little about my family. My son is reading in Gurukul, Vijaya Yās in Vṛndāvana.

Oh really? I'm in charge of that school.

Yeah, one child, one son.

No, no, I'm in charge of the Vṛndāvana Gurukul.

Actually, my family under guidance of Lila Purusottama Prabhu and His Holiness Bhakti Yasoda Vaisnava Maharaj. So yesterday we celebrated his birthday.

Are you from Orissa?

Yes, Maharaj. I'm from Odisha.

Okay.

That's why we are guided by them in Vrindavan. So, and Maharaj, just we seek your blessing because in this pandemic situation Many people, they are losing their job. Many devotees, they're losing job from Saudi Arabia.

In India, in the month of April, 27 lakh people above the age of 20 lost their jobs. 27 lakh.

Yes, Mahārāja. So here actually, in— this is a desert. We are always thinking how we can get great Vaiṣṇavas visits this Ananda Dham. Now fortunately online we are having your association. So this is our good fortune. Anyhow, this Zoom can make successful. But Maharaj, just please bless us so that we can preach here in this land more effectively. So that everybody we can flourish in bhakti.

What's your name?

Krishna Prasarandhan Das.

Okay. I tell them, "Nice meeting you. And please support the Gurukul where your son is studying." Yes, Maharaj.

My wife, she was working without salary in the Gurukul.

Very nice. Are you in I.T.?

Maharaj, sorry Maharaj, again.

Are you working in I.T.?

No, Maharaj, I am working in the construction company. So this is Riyadh Metro.

Okay, you're making a metro there?

Yes, Maharaj. Previously I worked in Delhi Metro, Mumbai Metro, and Korea Metro also.

Okay, thank you.

Next. Please unmute and switch on your video. Please go ahead and ask your question. Gurumataji, family are from Dubai and I'm being very sincerely and following, uh, many devotees are joining from this. Please go ahead and ask your question. We have, we have a program at their house, Gurumataji. Every week they are organizing, they're opening doors to their house, uh, one of the Bhakti programs every week happens at their house.

So very good.

Go ahead.

My name is, my name is Krishna. Yes, where's the camera?

Maharaj, it's not turning on because of some privacy settings.

Anyway, you have a nice name, Karuna. Karuna means to be merciful.

Hare Krishna Maharaj, Dhanwas Pranaam. A few of your previous questions My name is Riddhi, and a few of your previous questions my mother also asked, and because we listened to a lot of your lectures constantly, we were very fortunate to hear them in person as well.

So, where were you before?

That made us really excited.

Where were you before? Before coming to Dubai, where were you?

We were in Mumbai Maharaj.

You've been to the Jew temple? Yes. Okay, so what's your question now?

Uh, the question we have is, uh, when we chant and think of our, uh, children or anyone else and we wish for their fortune and betterment, is that a sin for us because we aren't as concentrated on chanting? Or is it purification for them because we're associating them?

You see, as you chant, you will get more and more purified. Krishna says in the 7th chapter, people come to me for 4 reasons. One who wants money, one who's in distress, one who's inquisitive, and the genuine seeker of knowledge. Kṛṣṇa says all these four apāyas are punyātmā. So it doesn't matter even if you start chanting because you want your children to do well or whatever your reason may be, or you become a millionaire. Just chant. And as you chant, you'll get purified.

Okay?

Dhuramarāja. Dhuramarāja. Went to the forest. He wanted to have a very ambitious kingdom. He got so purified by meditation, and when the Lord offered him that, he said, no, I was looking for broken glass, now I found a diamond. I don't want anything. Just keep chanting and reading.

All right, thank you so much, Maharaj.

Vishnu, where do you live? Where do you live, Vishnu? Where do you live?

I didn't hear you properly. I have taken shelter under your lotus feet.

What do you do in South— I said, what do you do in South Africa?

TCIL, it's a Government of India enterprise. So I was heading that company. So now I have retired recently on 30th of April.

Okay, so you're coming back to India?

India, I'm trying to— means the flights are not open. As soon as— means I'm trying to take help of embassy. To come back. So maybe in a week's time or two weeks' time I will come back.

Now you will have to charter a plane to come.

With your mercy.

Okay.

So Guru Maharaj, bless all of the Sanatana Dharma devotees so that they, in very difficult time and otherwise also there are so many restrictions here, so that they can progress in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

How many, how many years did you stay there? How many years were you in South Arabia for? How many years did you stay where you are?

How many years? How many years?

10 years now.

That's long time. Yeah, it's long time. Yes, any more questions?

Yes, there are many, many questions. I'll read out one.

Really?

This is from Shalini Mataji. She's asking, what is the position of women in shastras? She says that we have been attending sessions and we've been associating with devotees, but still we are unable to really— we have been watching Mahabharata. We have seen that women have generally suffered in Mahabharata. It is a common phenomenon. So how do we understand position of women in shastras?

Woman or man, whoever surrenders to Kṛṣṇa is protected by the Lord. We don't make any distinction. We don't say women are 10th-class devotees and men are 1st-class. Whoever serves Kṛṣṇa according to His instructions is protected by Kṛṣṇa. So in our movement They're all equal, men or women. But there's some jobs that men can do better. But there's no discrimination in devotional surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. You know, in the West, when they put an ad for a job, they put on the bottom, "Equal opportunity employer." You know that? Equal opportunity employer. That means? You're black or white, doesn't matter. You're qualified to get the job. So Krishna is also an equal opportunity employer. Doesn't matter whether you're male or female, you follow the instruction, you make spiritual advancement.

Thank you, Gurumaharaj. Next is Vanishree Mataji and Santosh Prabhu. Please switch on your camera and take Mahārāja's blessings and ask you a question. They are the ones, I think the oldest in Saudi. They had started kind of ISKCON Association back in many, many years back, almost more than a decade back. They were very initial devotees. Manish, please go ahead and ask your question.

We can't even— can we have their darshan?

Hare Krishna.

Have I seen you? Have I met you before?

Yes, Maharaj, I met you in Dubai.

In Dubai?

When you visited Dubai.

7 years, 6 years ago. Yes. Okay, okay. You have any questions?

Prasad Raaval, I mean, that's a general question, Maharaj, only regarding this pandemic, many people ask that how we connect to the spiritual injection with that, or Krishna relate to the That it is only a material, I mean, no, pandemic means a disease that goes everywhere.

This virus is a major disease. It has been classified as pandemic by WHO. It's a major disease. It's not an ordinary virus. So what's your question?

How it related to Kṛṣṇa and spiritually?

Well, spiritually we have a spiritual solution to every problem. Our problem solution is a spiritual solution. You follow? If people are God conscious, they chant the name of God, they don't kill innocent cows, they don't kill innocent animals, then Lord will also protect. When you break the laws of God, then laws of karma very severe. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, tit for tat. Della padella. That's how the law of karma works.

Thank you, Maharaj. It is a part of the law of karma. It is nothing to—

Now the law of negative karma is so heavy, the virus is going all over the world and recreating the whole society. Some good things are happening. They say, "Okay, no malls, no movies." So that's a blessing.

You are also a blessing in disguise, Maharaj. It is that only we had fortunate to be today.

Pleasure to see you all.

Hare Krishna.

Maharaj, next question is from Manoj Nayar Prabhu. He's also from Dubai. Mataji asked— Deepti Mataji is asking how— Manoj Prabhu also works with me in IBM. He is asking, "How do we get our teenage sons to be more active in Krishna consciousness? They have not been exposed to it until recently. So how do we encourage them to be in Krishna consciousness?" They are teenage devotees. Manu Prabhu, Dītya Mahārāja Ji, would you open your video and also, if I may request? Go ahead.

That's a very good question. Actually, Prasad RAVAL says, From the age of 5, we should start training the children. I think you started training your son from a young age, so that's showing good results. But sometimes children are introduced to Kṛṣṇa consciousness at an older age, when they're teenagers. It's not so easy to change their minds, but we should keep trying. And we are— I know many children who joined as teenagers and they become good devotees. But we should try, we should do our best. What else can we do? And unfortunately, I must say, the Hindu kids are very slow in taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It— you, for example, every Christian kid or youngster reads the Bible. Every young Muslim reads the Quran. But you won't find every young Hindu reading the Bhagavad Gita. But still we should try.

Thank you, thank you very much. My next question is from Sunita Bhan. Madhaji, you can ask your question and switch on your video. She is also Gurumahaj from Dubai. She is coming to the bhakti vikshas very regularly. She is chanting, a very nice devotee. Sunita Madhaji, please switch on your camera and ask the questions.

Hare Krishna, Prasad Raaval ji. Dhanvat pranam. Hi, I am associated with Charu Madhaji. I have one question that I do chanting but not too much. Like sometimes I do 2, 3 rounds, 4 rounds. But the main, the main thing is that I like to sing actually. I like, I like, when I go to kitchen and I do some work and I do chanting, I do, I think, I think I feel more comfortable in singing rather than chant mala.

What is, yeah, what is the reason for that?

Okay, this one is more better than Chatting, mala, or singing?

If you chat—

And my kids also like when I sing, and they also sing in front of me, like saying—

So what you should do, when you are cooking prasad, then you sing, and then when you sit in your temple, then you do japa. You know, you are intelligent lady, you can do both.

I am a housewife and I have some, you know, lot of work. And I feel more comfortable to sing rather than to mala.

Well, you do mala, that is better.

And that time my kids also sing along with me, that is why I feel more comfortable. Which one is more effective, chanting mala or singing?

Chanting mala.

And even my husband, more especially my husband likes that time.

Okay, but chanting, japa is better.

Okay, fine.

Hare Krishna. Thank you.

My next question is from Param Krishna Prabhu. Param Krishna Prabhu is a disciple of His Holiness Rānānādhā Śrīmārāja. He was in Saudi for many years. Now he's in Dubai. He's one of the senior devotees who was there in Saudi earlier. Param Krishna Prabhu, please go ahead and ask your question.

Hare Krishna. Dandavāt pranām, Guru Mahārāja. Hi, nice to see you.

I'm also very happy to see you. And mayabhi Thana se baat karo.

You are in Thana, Bombay? Yes, yes, yes. Oh, you have to stay there longer before you can get back to Dubai.

I am staying on Godavanda Road.

No, what I'm saying is everything is locked up.

Yes, it's a very tense situation here. Whether we can chant first and do the aarti, or we should do aarti first and then chant, because in temple we are performing aarti first and then doing chanting. But before, before the deity installation, I am having regular habit of chanting.

I have—

my mind is always fighting. No, I will chant, then I will do the aarti. Sometimes I feel, no, I should do aarti, then I should do the chanting.

What time do you do aarti?

Sometimes 4:30 or 5:00, like that. What is the time? Cut time, so we should not perform mandala arati after that time.

There is no cut time.

We can perform at 7:30, 8 AM also?

Yes, but do at 4:35. Apsarī jārvāya kārte ho. Abhāna standard mārgirāo.

Thank you very much, Mahāprasāda. Please bless me.

Thank you. Next, quickly.

Maharaj, next question is from Divakar Prabhu. Divakar Prabhu is also in Saudi Arabia, very nice devotee. He comes to all the programs regularly, participates. Divakar Prabhu, please go ahead and switch on your camera. My last name.

Hare Krishna Prabhu, Dandapanam.

Hi, Bolo.

Myself is Divakar Prabhu. Prabhuji, I have one question.

Are you right now in Saudi Arabia or are you in India?

I am in Saudi Arabia working in IT section. IT.

You are where now? Which city?

South India, South Indian Electricity Company, Real.

Real.

Yeah. Lord says in Bhagavad Gita, I am the source of material energy as well as spiritual energy.

I'm the source of everything.

Yeah, he is, he's the source of everything. So, and he's taking When once I become a devotee, He is taking 10 steps ahead, you know. So while we are chanting or while we are performing the chanting, why Maya is affecting for us? If He is taking the 10 steps ahead to us.

If you chant in here, Maya will run away. Just like the robber, just like the robber runs away when he sees the policeman. But you have to chant, keep chanting. Chanting. Keep chanting, reading, associating. Help ISKCON movement and it will be— then Maya will get scared of Krishna. Maya is scared of Krishna. Maya is happy when you surrender to Krishna.

Okay.

How many rounds do you chant every day?

How many rounds do you chant?

16 rounds, Prasad.

Very nice. Stay on that, right?

Yes.

Chant and read. Okay.

Hare Krishna. Blessing, Prasada Ji. Thanks for taking your darshana for us.

Thank you.

It makes me very happy during this particular lockdown moment. You are the best speaker.

Thank you.

Rahul, thank you, Prasada Ji. Rahul, Prasada Ji, How many more questions you have?

Yes, how are you?

Guru Sadhguru, okay.

Next, next question. I have to go now.

Okay, Gurumahajana, one or two questions, uh, if you may ask, if you don't mind. Quickly, quickly, quickly.

But don't— it appears like the Indian audience has moved to Saudi Arabia.

Mostly Indian. Yes, Maharaj, so this is a question from Radha Mohan Prabhuji. He is saying that there are a lot of devotees who are fearing Corona and they're not coming forward to do seva in the temple. Why should they fear Corona if they have Kṛṣṇa on their side?

They should not. They should say, "We are serving Kṛṣṇa. Today or tomorrow we are all going to die. So what is there to get scared?" Why are people scared of coronavirus? Because it may cause death. That's why. But death is going to come in any case. It's better to keep on serving Kṛṣṇa. Rather than not serving.

Okay.

Yes, Maharaj.

Gurumaharaj, I think one more question is there that Tarunabhataji and family is asking. Let's say they start chanting but they are not able to maintain. They go, maintain some round and then they somehow fall down from that prescribed number that they promised. And then they go up again. So how do we maintain it?

In English, there is a saying, Try and try again, you will succeed at last. You must have heard that when you were in school. Try and try again, you will succeed at last. Let them try, try, try, and then they'll succeed.

Okay.

Everything is possible if you try. Were you able to hear the answer?

Yes, yes, Guru Mahārāja, yes.

Okay, any—

anybody else have any question? We, we are done with the chat window questions. If anybody else wants to ask—

I want to thank all of you, and please make spiritual advancement. Everything is temporary. The only permanent asset is the spiritual life. So chant and read and make progress. Today I had a bad throat, so I have to struggle to speak louder.

Gurubhai, there are Saudi devotees generally don't get association of Vaishnavas because of travel restrictions. I would request all the Vaishnava devotees from Saudi, please switch on their mics, switch on their cameras and take Gurubhai's blessing. Whoever has not spoken also, please switch on their mic, cameras, and please take blessings.

Now thanks to technology we can go, we can go to everyone's house for prasad. I mean technology, thanks to technology we can go to all your homes. Isn't it? Okay, thank you.

Yes, he's a young boy, comes to— he stays in Dubai with his mother. He wants to ask a quick question, if you allow.

Okay.

Um, thanks for turning on your mic and the camera.

Okay.

Yes, Maharaj, can you see me?

Yes, yes, you look like a movie star. You acted in movies?

Maharaj, my question is that, um, I see it's kind of like When you think, like, I thought of, like, yesterday I was thinking of what happens when you die. I saw a show, so I, I was thinking what happens when you die.

So it—

I, I believe, and I've been told that once you believe in Krishna and you have faith in him, you're not scared of the thought of death, of losing your— the things you love, etc. But still, even though I have been— I have believed in Krishna for as long as I can remember, since I was I was 7, 6 years old. I still have that feeling of like the feeling of being scared and the feeling of what will happen if I die, what is beyond this planet. How do I cure this feeling?

If you are chanting Hare Krishna, reading Bhagavad Gita, then you have nothing to worry. Even if death comes, Krishna will protect you. Just like you are in school or college. Do you study in school or college?

Maharaj, I'm in school, Maharaj.

Okay. Let's say you are well prepared. You study every day. Are you scared of exams? No. You have been studying every day.

Yeah.

But somebody who doesn't study, he's always scared. So similarly, when one is chanting, The holy name, then you don't have to worry. Krishna will protect you.

Thank you. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to talk to Maharaj. Um, Krishna.

Okay, bye-bye. Okay. Lama Lama Ale Ale.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.