Significance of devotees' association | SB 11.11.25 | 31 July 2022 |Toronto | Gopal Krishna Goswami

Alehaleh. Thank you, sir. When you read, I will get to Chapter 11, text 25. Okay.

Kanto 11, Chapter 11, The Symptoms of Living Entities. Text 25. Sat Sangha Labdhaya Bhaktiya.

Sat Sangha Labdhaya Bhaktiya.

Vai Mam Sau Pashita.

Vai Mam Sau Pashita.

Savai Me Darshitam Satvir.

Savai Me Darshitam Satvir.

Anja Savinda Te Padam.

Anja Savinda Te Padam.

Satsangalabhaya bhakti, imam sa upashita, sevai medarshitam sadvi, anjesavin de tepadam. Satsangarabdhe Abhakya. Mahimaam Saupashikaa.

Savaai Medarshikam Sadveer. Savaai Medarshikam Sadveer.

Anandeshwari Devadam.

Satsangarabdhe Abhakya.

Sāvaike, dasikam, satve.

Anjasa, anteva, dāvata, jīs. Sama imedhaśikāṁ sat-vir andesa vinde te padām.

Andesa vinde te padām. Sat, sat, of the devotees, of the devotees, of the Lord, of the Lord, sanghā, sanghā, by the association, by the association, laddhayā, laddhayā, obtained, obtained, bhaktiyā, bhaktiyā, by devotion, by devotion, Mahe to me, Ma of me, Sahaji Upasita worshipper, Sahaja that very person, by undoubtedly, me, my Darshitam revealed, Sadhvi by my pure devotion, devotees, very easily achieves My lotus feet for My eternal abode. Translation proper by Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda. One who has obtained pure devotional service by association with My devotees always engages in worshipping Me. Thus he very easily goes to My abode, which is revealed by My pure devotees. Please repeat. One who has obtained—

One who has obtained—

pure devotional service—

pure devotional service—

by association with My devotees— by association with My devotees— always engages— always engages—

in worshipping Me—

in worshipping Me— Thus he very easily goes to My abode, which is revealed by My pure devotees. Purport: In the previous verses, Lord Krishna has emphasized the value of surrendering to Him in loving service. One may ask how such surrender or devotion is actually achieved. The Lord gives the answer in this verse: One must live in a society of devotees, and thus automatically one will be engaged 24 hours a day in the various processes of devotional service, beginning with shavanam, kirtanam, and smaranam— hearing, glorifying, and remembering the Lord. The pure devotees of the Lord can reveal the spiritual world by their transcendental sound vibration, making it possible for even a neophyte devotee to experience the Lord's abode.

Prasad RAVAL.

Being thus enlivened, the neophyte makes further progress and gradually becomes qualified to personally serve the Personality of Godhead in the spiritual world. By constantly associating with devotees and learning from them about devotional service, one quickly achieves a deep attachment for the Lord and the Lord's service, and such attachment gradually matures into pure love of Godhead. Foolish persons say that the various mantras composed of names of God, as well as all other mantras, are merely material creations with no special value, and therefore any so-called mantra or mystic process will ultimately produce the same result. To refute such superficial thinking, the Lord here describes the science of going back home, back to Godhead. One should not accept the bad association of impersonal beings who state that the Holy Name, form, qualities, and pastimes of the Lord are Maya or illusion. Maya is actually an insignificant potency of the Almighty Personality of Godhead, and if one ignorantly tries to elevate illusion above the Absolute Truth, one will never experience love of Godhead and will be cast into deep forgetfulness of the Lord. One should not associate with those who are envious of others jealous of the fortunate devotees who are going back to Godhead. Such envious persons deride the abode of the Lord, which is revealed by the pure devotees to those who have faith in the Lord's message. Envious persons create disturbances among people in general, who take shelter of the faithful devotees of the Lord. Unless people hear from pure devotees, it is impossible for them to understand that there is a Supreme Personality of Godhead eternally existing in His own abode, which is self-luminous, full of bliss and knowledge. In this verse, the importance of sangha, association, is clearly explained.

I'd like to welcome everyone to the Bhāgavatam class. Sat sangaḥ rabdhāya bhaktiyaḥ māimāṁ sa upājitāḥ. Sāveveyaḥ dājitāṁ sarve jijñāvina te param. So, all Kṛṣṇa instructing Vrindavan for the process of devotional service. And in this verse, Lord is explaining, "What is important? Anyone associates the devotee, he can cultivate devotional service." This verse highlights important for sadhu sadhaka. We read our scriptures, we see this point comes up again and again. Spiritual association. Associate with spiritualists, avoid the association of children. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, this is very famous word. Sadhu sadhaka, sadhu sadhaka. Our Mother, Sadhu Sangha. Even for a fraction of a second, you associate with a reverent devotee, you can, your spiritual life can begin. The devotee anxious to stay in devotee sangha. In Nārada Muni's explanation to Vāmanaṁ, In the fourth canto, one can possibly have three levels of association. You can associate with those who are more advanced. Secondly, associate with those who are equally advanced. And third is, prasad raṇḍra. Associate with those who are less advanced. And how should one behave? Nāgārjuna explains, if you have the opportunity to be associated with somebody who is more advanced, you should become joyful. Why? Because you are going to receive knowledge. Just like you may be suffering from disease, but as soon as you associate with an expert doctor in that field, you feel relieved that he may have a cure. So, if when you associate with somebody more advanced, you receive spiritual knowledge. And that's why I was joyful he had the opportunity to associate with one who is more advanced. If I was a— I will say it Just like when peacocks see clouds for the first time in the rainy season, they dance in ecstasy. Well, I can't tell you why. I'm talking about Guruji's example. Just like a peacock when he sees the clouds for the first time in the rainy season, he dances in ecstasy. Bhagavan says, similarly, if a devotee has the opportunity to associate with somebody more advanced, he's joyful, because he's going to get asaṇḍana. Then, second level of association is associating with those who are equally advanced. How do we behave if we have the opportunity be associated with those who are equally well. What does one do? Make friendship. Friendship in spiritual life means we help each other to progress spiritually. We help each other to execute devotional service. Friendship in material life means we facilitate each other's sense enjoyment. And if you can't do that, then they end up in separation or divorce. Divorce. But in spiritual life, friendship means we work together to spread the message of love. In the fourth canto, we read about Madhumuni, Nisargadatta Prabhupada. And the Supreme Lord said, "I'm very pleased by all of you. All of you have one main occupation." What is that? Devotional service. He was always very pleased with the prajñitas, because they all had one main occupation. That is devotional service. So, When you have the opportunity to be associated with those who are equally devoted, you make friends. Friendship means we serve the Lord together, we go out preaching together, makes a good service to Him. That is friendship. A real friendship is a new, holy friend. Your colleagues on the path of devotion. And what happens? How do you behave? You associate with somebody, that's it, what? What do we do? We display compassion. Compassion is one of the characteristics of a devotee. And third kind of There was a— I mean, one of the friends, one of the spiritual workers, and she asked him, "How can I become free from this entanglement from both of them?" The sadhva was very happy with the question. He responded by saying, "Mushu." And she wanted to know, "How can I?" with this knowledge and devotion for Him. And the Lord said, "Aishwarya Guru." So, "Devotee parāduḥ kām." Seeing others in distress, he becomes blissful. So, we have the opportunity to associate with those who are less evolved in this great Compassion on the spiritual path is exhibited by Abhaisṣva. Abhaisṣva is always compassionate. Abhaisṣva doesn't believe in self-attack. He believes in compassion. And compassion means endeavouring to give spiritual knowledge. So, association with Abhaisṣva and Nityānanda Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, they say, asā saṅgatyāga vraja-vaiṣṇava. You obey. So this is a non-native way. Now, you have to associate with devotees. I'm sorry, you have to associate with non-devotees. It will be practical. Even when you go to preach, it's not that everyone you meet on the road, they are Hare Kṛṣṇa devotees. Most of them are critical, etc. We go out, we associate with non-devotees too. Only devotees. Only to the extent it is necessary, not beyond that. And we have, we stay in devotee association, but we also be reminded about important in spiritual life. Prabhupāda said, "I have created this International Society of Krishna Consciousness to give everyone an opportunity to associate, engage in devotional service." In Prabhupāda's example, we saw, oh, he, wherever he went, he gave association, he conducted So, we should look for full ears of the Lord. So, Devakuti, when she enquired from her son, she said, "How could she become free from the entanglement of birth and death?" Son said, "By executing devotion to the Lord." Then she wanted to know, "How will I get this knowledge of devotion to the Lord?"— by associating with saintly people. So saintly association is highly recommended. And in English there's a proverb, there's a statement: A man is known by the company he keeps. We recognize that for that. Same type of association If he's interested in the spiritual path, he will associate with others in that. If he's interested in chill-out, a drunkard hangs around with other drunkards. A gambler associates with other gamblers. Similarly, a transcendentalist associates with those who have the transcendental vision. We were all very interested Because we will put that. Deva Guti was a great Ayurveda, by his opinion, the knowledge of Pīrāsaya. One should transfer the attachment we have for individual. We do get attached to seeing people, What does it mean getting attached to Śrīla Prabhupāda? It actually means getting attached to his instruction. Wāpo 'en māni, wāpo 'en the transcendental form. I need his instruction. You know, the two. Which is important? One. So Śrīla Prabhupāda is recognized. What he speaks, what he offers, So, Deva Gūdhī wanted to know, "How can I cultivate devotion to Kṛṣṇa?" Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the Bhāgavatam, 3rd Canto, there is a very beautiful portion to describe about the importance of devotion, the importance of devotees, how one can associate with devotees, and cultivate spiritual life. By associating with devotees, we get, we find it easier to execute devotional service. For example, if you were all alone in Toronto, you would not be able to execute devotional service easily. But if you are in the association of devotees, what Kṛṣṇa says, then it becomes easy to execute. So, staying in the association of devotees is paramount. And the purpose of saying that, those who are interested in spiritual life, know the value of the holy name of the Lord. But there are those who have not taken, who do not take to the process of chanting. What do they do? They criticize and say, "These names of God are not spiritual, they are material." And Prabhupāda makes a point, We have these names of God, ākāpṛhivi, yūśra, and how you surrender to the Lord and knowledge you get by buddhi association. Śrīla Prabhupāda says, by buddhi association you become inspired to follow the path of Śrīla Rādhā-Mādhava-Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Avanam and Keṣthanam are most important for elevating spiritual life. The plant mother was carrying the heart in the womb, and Indra, Indra Deva, came to drag her to his residence in the residence with the intention that the child would be born, they would kill the child, because they were thinking that the child was a windmill even. Narad Muni appeared on the scene and said, "No, you won't be able to kill a child and a woman is nearly in a great state." So Narad Muni instructed— father, mother, and he passed the devotion service. So, Prasada was always— well, he described to me, what is the best subject you learn in school? There wasn't easy. Don't look at him, he says, "Madhubhārata." I didn't want to listen, second language. The śrīla Mādhya-kīrtanam, the foundation of our spiritual life. Śrīla Mādhya-kīrtanam means— here again, Chaitanya Mahāprabhu was on a tour of South India. And He met this great devotee, Amma Naragoy. And on the banks of the river Godāvī, before He started His trip I told the mapo, when you go to the south of India, you're going to meet a great sage who can give you transcendental knowledge. So, Prasad had already known it. And that is Prasad's father. And Prasad said at the time, and very lovingly he said, "Prasad, describe to me all the subjects that you've studied. What is most important?" And what did Prasad say? He said, "The name of God is the most important." When his father heard that, he was a changed man. Of his life. So, a devotee, he has been staying in devotee association because he knows, by being in devotee association, I'm going to hear about the transcendental glories of God. So, we should not be anxious to stay in devotee association, but perform this in the leisure society. What problem? Because there are daily sexual harassments. We will discuss the sexual harassments and the government structure. So, it's getting enchanting, it's more and more. Now, the materialists say, the impersonal materialists, who maintain that these names of God are not spiritual, they are material. We hear from Prasad, these names of God are purely spiritual. And because they are purely spiritual, you go on chanting day and night, you will get tired. Do you ever feel that you have chanted the holy names and you are tired? What are you going to do? Is there anything like that? No. Because the Holy Name is transcendental. It is descending from the spiritual world. When you are born by the will of God, you will chant it day and night. You will not get tired. In the material world, nobody enjoys the work easily. For example, if you were enjoying Why would we look forward to holidays? Just like this is currently a long weekend in Canada. Where is everybody? Those who can afford it, they are out on the beaches and everything, and country homes. Because they get tired of doing their work in office and they want to be— the children go to school, They have time after some time. They want a holiday. The legal system all over the world gives you more holidays than any other profession. So, in material life, people don't enjoy what they are doing. Therefore, they look forward to variety, change, etc. So, if you are any sort of a devotee, and you will receive transcendental knowledge. In the scriptures there are so many examples of how people got saved. You read the history. Now the moving, passing through the forest, when he saw far-fetched animals, Everywhere. So he said, "Who is this criminal who is half-killing these animals?" And who was the criminal? Prasad Raaval. The guy was a hunter. His family profession was hunting and made his living this way. So the guy and him had hid himself behind the bushes when he saw Nana Moni coming. And you only heard Nana Moni saying, "Who is that criminal?" without facing them. But he got his gift from Nana Moni. It's like, this is my favorite question, when Nana Moni Association He got so purified that in future he would put his feet on the ground. He would make sure that there was no ad there. Prasad Raaval said, initially said, "If I stop the profession, how will I support my family?" God used to kill animals, and he said, "And he's not half killed them, but he enjoyed it." And when he explained to him, the simple reaction, "Oh!" So the hunter was so purified. Then later on, Nārada Muni was passing by with Parvata Muni And then he said, "Let me see our disciple here, how he's doing." And when they were going, they pushed the guy out. The guy was coming to greet his guru, and he was so careful that he didn't want to step over there. So this is an example that you've heard many times. But it is an example that shows you how iman has been also paid for. When Prabhupāda went to the West, it was a very big meeting there they were. When Prabhupāda first, the ship was came to Boston, the captain of the ship, to Prabhupāda to see the city. And Prabhupāda, when he saw, or he looked at the sight, the materialist world, he said, "You brought me here, but I don't know whom to take it." Prabhupāda was also known as Kavi. Kavi means wave. Then he said, However, by Rādhārāṇī's mercy, anything is possible. So Prasād RAVAL wrote this poem and eventually threw himself at the foot and he came to the Association. So many examples of how the movement's Association transforms people. Prabhupāda had gone to the Soviet Union for 5 days on visa. At that time, Soviet Union was purely communist and atheistic. Prabhupāda went there to Khabibristan and met one devotee, Sri Nandan devotee, who preached Mayāva pravaḥ. And the movement spread further. So, sādhu-saṇḥ. Sometimes we devotee, don't value sādhu-saṇḥ. Sometimes we devotee think, we indulgent fault-finding. We indulgent fault-finding. And we don't realize the importance of sādhu-saṇḥ. We should be eager to associate, and if we are not keen to associate with devotees, then our spiritual life will be in danger. We should be keen to associate with devotees. So, in this verse, the Lord is saying, that my devotees, by associating with devotees, engage in worshiping Me. When you associate with devotees, you get inspired to basically devotional living. And thus is very easy most of My abode, which is revealed by your devotees. Your devotees also, And it was good. And the children followed him. He was a very good guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj had a very, very strange way. He wanted the kingdom more often than he wanted the people. So Guru Maharaj, he had another community, which is So the Lord said, "Ājiva, I am pleased with you. For my pleasure you have performed so many austerities. Please ask me for any benediction in human life, any, any whatever you go for. Please give me the association." of advanced devotees. Because if I am with advanced devotees, I will hear, "Aum," I will get spiritual advancement. When I am in the company of advanced devotees, I will get spiritual knowledge. So, Prasad RAVAL said, "If you want to give me any benediction, please give me the benediction that I may stay with advanced devotees." also under my father's authority. With the Lord's help. Plus, my— as a second, you are given so many— it's nothing. I don't give any benediction. Whatever I ask. If you want to give me a benediction, please give me the benediction that all my material desires may get smashed. All my material desires may be crushed. That's what He asked. In the Vṛndī, we ask for His benediction, and benediction is related to advancing on the spiritual path. Now, in the purport, Prabhupāda also talks about envies, or the envies. We are not engaged in devotional service. And this is the Hindi expression, 'nāca zinpoṇ.' And we should be up to it. And we, you know, because when we, what do we do? We engage in quality reciting. And envy is detrimental to spiritual development. In the Caitanya Charitamrta, Prasada RAVAL had a child, who had one daughter, and one daughter was married to a monger for being envious of the boy. A monger would just be spying on the Lord to catch some wrong statement that they may have made. So, "Sri Bhuvaracharya, I didn't know I did." "No, you didn't." "No, I didn't." He said, "A woman, a Vaiṣṇava, is vain. You should cook very fast." Cook A.D. I think. Prasad Raaval, Cook A.D. So, I said, "Oh, Maharaj-ji, I am." We stand at the gate. He didn't want his son at all to see what we go for. So, one day, I go, "Oh, Maharaj-ji, I am." He leaves the door. He helped his wife. Amma came in, saw all these 80 items on the table and said, "Look at that false renunciate. Takes to sannyāsa but eats more opulently than a real sannyāsa." So, "Aramuvu chaya." So often they chased him away. A little later, Ocetanya was asking Gopīla, how is Ammoga? And Gopīla said, is suffering from cholera, going to die. Lord Caitanya went there, placed His hand on his chest and said, as long as enemy is there, Kṛṣṇa will not side. And then Boga was completely transformed. He fell at the feet of the Lord. That's all. Point is, envy is deeply— envy is going to be— come to no more, man. It's going to be— envy haters, you have to get So, on the spiritual path, you also have this problem. Is it right? If you see someone performing very well, you become envious. You see that somebody has something which you don't have, then you become envious. Envy should be avoided. It is spiritual envy when you try to do more than others.— but children and me should be avoided. And we come because we are on a Bodhi platform. With a Bodhi platform, you will recognize that I am here for national agency. And if you have these mature desires, then we will become enemies. Envious. For example, devotees go out to distribute books and they sponsor other congregations. This doesn't mean that we are envious, we are trying to pull them down. We should stay away from envy. And you can have spiritual envy. Spiritual envy means I try to do more than the other them. So envy is one of the anātman. Prasad RAVAL, envy, hatred, they all to be avoided. So we should not be envious. If you see that somebody has some quality or some ability we do not have, we don't have to be envious. The Lord has given everyone different abilities, and the Lord has placed, we engage in service according to our means and abilities. And if we keep envying, especially envy against brahmachari, against devotee, very painful. Envy should be avoided. How can envy be avoided? Only if we have transcendental knowledge. Because if we transcend knowledge, then envy, envy can be overcome. So, Prabhupāda says in the purport, "Envious persons create disturbances for the people in general." So, we should give up envy. He then asks us, How can you overcome these anarthas? Bhagavan Swami says, aloṣadāt adhāsāram. In the first place, you must have associated desire in the heart. You must have desire that I want to free myself from the anarthas, engage in yoga. When the Lord sees that you have a genuine desire, to cultivate spiritual life, what does the Lord do? He gives them the required association. Required association, I am sure of us, through two mediums. One is the devotee, bhakti, gives you association. The other way? Book. Book, Bhāgavata. He has a devotee Bhāgavata and then grants. We have innumerable examples. Those who come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness are getting a book. So, we should aspire for devotees who are faithful. And if you have genuine association, then what will happen? Then you will receive knowledge. You have to make question and answer. It is known as the process of bhajana-kriya. If the bhajana-kriya is being followed, then there will be— na, then there will be. So in our books, the course for making They have very clearly explained how Bhagavan was with you. The holy names of the Lord are not different from the Lord. And anybody who says, "The holy names are material," he is offensive. The holy names of the Lord are descended from the spiritual world. And what do they do? "Om." Om means "Aum." Om means "Aum." That is what they are. It can be a practical experience. Just with this chanting process, so many people got transformed. So, these names of the Lord are spiritual, and they are coming from the spiritual world. If one thinks that these are just mundane names, that is very offensive. So, the holy name of Lord Rādhā, non-different from the Lord, is a holy name which can be chanted by anyone at any time. No discrimination. It's like the clouds pour water, and the water falls on mountaintops, falls on fertile land, etc. Similarly, holy name can be chanted by anyone. In his spiritual benefit. So the Lord is telling us about in this verse that my devotees obtain spiritual association, and with this spiritual association they get attracted to the process of worship of the Lord. And the holy name of the Lord always transfer. Holy Name is coming from the spiritual world. Creation souls, please get up. And what do you do? Cultivate spiritual life. Begin with the chanting of God. So the reality is, The Holy Name of the Lord, the Nāmādhānamā of the Lord. And that's why we are able to chant day and night and not get tired. Asaḥ sakur. You chant how many times? 300,000 times. So the Holy Name of the Lord, because it is descending from the spiritual world, you can chant and you won't get tired. And anyone who thinks the Holy Name is mundane, He launches a tour of South India. He met his devotee Ramana Maharshi. And Sarvabhauma Prajaya advised the Lord, "When He goes to South India, He will meet His great devotee." And was holding a position over God. When Ramana Maharshi answered the questions that were presented to the Lord. One question that was asked, "What is that song that one should always chant?" And Amṛta Rāja said, "One should chant that song that glorifies Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa." And what is that song? Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāsmāntara. "I am glorifying Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa." And another question He was asked: "What is the greatest distress a devotee can feel? What is the most painful activity for a devotee?" That's like, whatever you go to a doctor, you say, "I am experiencing severe pain." So Lord Caitanya said, "What is that one activity which is most painful for a Vaiṣṇava?" Apart from separation from devotees of Kṛṣṇa, no, no unbearable happen. So when you get separated from devotees of the Lord, what is that result then? Unbearable pain. Unbearable unhappiness. So, Ramana Maharshi said, "We should all go and associate with devotees." So, most painful experience for devotee is being separated from other devotees. But how does that happen? How do we get separated? Meditation of God. When we do Vaishnava prāsa against other Vaishnavas, what happens? You get separated from other devotees. You lose the opportunity to have devotee association. And then, once you're not in devotee association, then what happens? Then our spiritual life gets weak and weak. So we should be very careful that devotees have prāsaad RAVAL. We avoid the prāṣad. Because if we do vāiṣṇava prāṣad, then that has a negative effect. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāyaṣaḥ said, "When you get separated from devotees of Kṛṣṇa, that is the greatest pain for a Vaiṣṇava." So our prayer should be, we may avoid the 10 offenses and cultivate spiritual life. On a special path, We want to make suggestions, this is a bhāgavata. But our enemy, they criticize, that should be avoided. So to summarize the verse, the Lord is explaining that due to association with devotees, they get to new knowledge, or they approach Me, the Supreme Lord. And devotees are anxious to associate with those who are more advanced. And by process of śravaṁ-ketanam, what takes place? Anātāte vādaḥ. So we should be anxious to associate with those who are more advanced. We should be anxious to serve always Śrīla Prasāda Raṣāda. We should be anxious to be servant of the servant of the servant. Serving. In material life, everybody wants to be the boss. In spiritual life, we're anxious to serve, whether even in something insignificant, but we are anxious to serve. And if you serve the Lord, follow the instruction of Advaita Vedanta, then what happens? Then cheetahs are never marching along, flagging them up. The heart will get cleansed. Sometimes the devotee says, "Oh, I still have all these attachments. I've been chanting for so long." These attachments can be overcome by the power of bhakti, the power of pure bhakti. And if you do that in association of devotee, then devotional service becomes easier. And execute devotional service. Completely idiot. So this principle of devotee association is mentioned in so many verses, which in every lecture we are talking about that. Because the vāsana of prāsad is a stumbling block on the path of devotion. Therefore, we recite these verses every morning. The defense is not just for new bhaktas, but for new and old bhaktas. We are reminding ourselves that as long as we have these offenses, we will not be able to make spiritual progress. And we should abstain from criticizing, blackpooling the enemy, We make critical statements. We need to avoid this part. And then it will be easier to see it spiritually. Hare Krishna. I wanted to leave some time for question and answer. Yeah. Hare Krishna, Guru Mahārāja.

Thank you so much for the wonderful Bhāgavatam session.

Prasad Raaval.

My question is that in this verse we talked about devotee association. Sometimes across different ISKCON centres we do want to have devotee association, but the mood of devotional service is very different.

That could be because of different circumstances, that could be because of different local authorities.

So how should one serve in such situation?

Repeat your question.

Maharaj, we see that across different ISKCON centres, there could be different mode of devotional service. That could be because of the local authorities, that could be because—

I don't think that there is difference in the philosophy. Like, there is no ISKCON centre that will say, "Om Jai Srimad Nārāyaṇa Daya." The philosophy is intact. You can go to Africa, you can go anywhere in the world, always going to be teaching philosophy. What may vary is the emphasis. Someone may talk more about book distribution, someone may talk less. But ultimately, these instructions also are based on Prabhupāda's instructions, which are the same for everyone. The mood may be different because We are all individuals. We all have our own lifestyle. So, the basic instructions are the same. Chāraḥaikrṣṇa, karapam angrāti, study the books, be a servant of the servant. These are there everywhere. And if there is a certain viciousness in writing, But basic instruction is being given. The style may be different, but they are all shooting for the same activity. Some may say maybe, sometimes somebody says a very sweet pranayama, someone not so sweet. There may be sometimes a variety. But the principle, the basic philosophy is the same. Yes. Hare Krishna, Gurubhajan. Maharaj, you mentioned about envious or fault-finding nature. So how should we deal with the people who are envious of you or always trying to find a fault in you? Should we avoid them or should we be compassionate to always a criticism. They're criticizing you all the time. Then they criticize you without any reason, then, then they have to take on the reaction also. And somebody is engaged in fault-finding you, the first step, you can humbly approach them and tell Prabhu, you say like this, but the truth is like that. But if they persist in criticizing you, that's already— because what is the other alternative? Tit for tat. Tit for tat, that will result in both the sides getting more aggressive. So, some benedicting humble prayers. And then, if there is something, if somebody commits a mistake, you will take on the reaction. Nobody is karma-free. So, whether it has seen anybody or interviewed anybody, nobody is karma-free. Everyone has to be given. I can't say, "I'm a senior devotee, what do I say?" help. Yeah, these chairs are really slippery. Maharaj, you were saying that we have to behave differently with different devotees, more advanced, less advanced people, but the definition of kanishta adhikārī is that he doesn't know who is advanced, who is not advanced. So how can How do you get to know the different devotees like this and how to deal with them? Okay, you know who is more advanced. That's your question. Well, it's not easy to— it's not difficult to see who is more advanced. But if you're in doubt, then take the help of some other senior devotee.— speak to him. And if somebody's advanced, and you don't inform Prasad Raaval, that's— and if you're in doubt whether this person is junior or more or to take the help of another Vaishnava. But you can see by his talk, by the action, the advanced devotee, he only talks about Krishna. Only time engaged in doing His service. He doesn't come and talk about stock market or sporting leagues or We see by our actions and body. By engaging in the devotional service in the company of your devotees, one becomes very quickly attached to the service of Krishna and Krishna Himself. Maharaj, could you please describe the symptoms of one who is attached to Krishna and His service? Who is attached to? Attached to Krishna or service to Krishna. Example, some devotee? The symptoms. Symptoms of a person. The symptom is he doesn't want to waste a minute. He doesn't want to engage indulgence and prajālpa. Anybody doesn't want to— he doesn't fall for it. He's only interested in talking about Kṛṣṇa, talking about how to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, how we can engage everyone to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The symptom of an advanced devotee He takes no interest in bhajan. He doesn't waste a minute. He doesn't spend his time in idle activity. Thank you, Maharaj. Yes. Prasad RAVALAD RAVALAD, who was the camp organizer about ISKCON society of devotee in associating like 24 hours to make a program. But those people like myself and many of people here who don't live in that temple atmosphere and they don't have 24 hours association, what about them? What is Well, the point is, like you work, you're a doctor, you go to office. We don't have to associate with knowledgeable people to do our— if we follow their instruction, we repeat it, in fact, and give you the grace of spirit. If you're turning around every day in the morning, I will give you the grace of spirit. You don't have to necessarily stay in Vāsudevāri Pranubhāva. If we follow the instruction, then there will be You will stand. You follow the instructions of the Ācārya. Like Prabhupāda gave us some ground rules. We follow those, then you will automatically make spiritual advancement. There are so many letters of Prabhupāda that he has written. If you follow 4 regular principles and chant 16 rounds, you will definitely go back to Godhead. Oh, Chaitanya has made it very easy. And Prabhupada made it even easier. Thank you, Swami. In the lecture, I think you repeated like multiple times two points, that Holy Name is spiritual and when we keep chanting the Holy Name we never feel tired. I think you repeated like 3 times. This statement. How can we understand? Theoretically we know that Holy Name is spiritual, but how can we understand practically that Holy Name is spiritual? You experience it every day. You chant Holy Name every day. So my question was— Someone should hold on to the microphone. It keeps slipping. So, can somebody repeat the question? So, my question was, Guru Mahārāja, how can we understand, theoretically, Bhāgavatam, Bhāgavad-gītā, the lectures of the Guru Mahārāja, the lecture of Śrīla Prabhupāda, different spiritual masters, they keep emphasizing the one point: Holy Name is spiritual. But how can I understand practically that Holy Name is spiritual? You chant the Holy Name and you can go on chanting and you'll get tired. That's not the case. We have to have faith in the words of the scripture. The scripture is described, Anamahana Mahanama Evake Brahmanam. The scriptures have described the glories of the Holy Name. And we have experienced. Everything we have enjoyed. But if somebody is completely on the material platform, there is no desire to accept that, then he will deny the potency, or he may just not accept it. But any sincere person who chants will feel they get more in chanting. You can't take a material name, let's say, a dollar, a bill, You can't repeat it. I don't know. The Holy Name of the Lord you can repeat day and night and not get tired. Yes, yes, you are right, Prasad. But when you say that you chant the Holy Name day and night and you don't get tired, the point is that I feel tired, so— You may be physically tired, but the point is you won't feel, "I have chanted the Holy Name for many times," time, or you need a break. We never say, "Give me a break." Haha. With the Holy Name, in fact, the nature of a devotee is, he can't stay without the Holy Name. A devotee, if he is deprived of the opportunity to chant, he gets frustrated. Thank you so much. When we got separated from devotees in COVID days, it was so unhappy. Hare Krishna, Guru Mahārāja. Thank you for the wonderful class. So when we distinguish between sanyāsti-mādhyaṁ and uttama-adhikārī devotees, so by distinguishing between all three classes of devotees, if we somehow distinguish devotee in a Kṛṣṇa-nāma-tattvārī wouldn't be that confident as an abhrajāda if he made a mistake? If you, if you— whether they are senior devotee or junior, well, we don't have to go on praising everyone, but some of the advanced devotees And their symptoms are known to everyone. We don't necessarily rate everyone with it. Yeah. Gurumaraaj, you mentioned about wapu and wadi association. Now in the age of internet, wadi association is everywhere. Everywhere. So who should we listen and whom should we not listen, Maharaj? In terms of whose lectures you should listen, anyone who is a bona fide representative of Prabhupāda and repeating the philosophy as it is, you can listen. But anyone who is not in our parampara and not speaking exactly what Prabhupāda said, You can avoid. We know who is to understand the buddhism when the buddhism not so ignorant.

Thank you, Mother.

Hey, more question? Mahārāja, thank you very much. Nowadays, and it's kind of related to Prasad Raaval's question, devotees might feel they can just either read books or even see devotees online. What could you say, tell about the significance of physically associating with devotees? No doubt that physical association is very needed also, but practically speaking, the divine plays a bigger role. And that's what Acharya Prasad said, because physical form is temporary. And we asked them, they gave us all these scriptures. So, we had to get attached to money. We had to rely on the money. You can't, for example, have physical association all the time. Of course, these days, the days of technology, You can have video, but Vādhī is more important than Bhāgavata. Another question? Yes, Mārāja. I guess I wanted to hear, but how important it is. Vādhī is important, but, uh, Vādhī is more important. Prabhupāda met his spiritual master sir. At best, I was 6th. That's all. He took his whining too hard and gave him 6th. Prabhupāda didn't. So he had the opportunity to associate with the guru a lot. I want to say that himself. So, Wari, we didn't associate with Hargobind Sahib Ji, but we have a Wari in the form of a book.

I think, Guru Mahaj, what he means also to the question is, then do we need to come to the temple physically, or can we just attend the programs online?

Online because we get the bhāgavatam. Is that partly what you're asking?

The physical association, do we need to come to the temple?

Maybe that's your question. They should come to the temple and take advantage of the physical association, because physical association is also limited. You should come to the temple. Prabhupāda built these beautiful temples. Why? You create an environment where we could go and associate. Can you imagine if ISKCON didn't have all these temples, what life would have been? Now you go to Washington, D.C., there's a temple. You go to the Dham, there's a big temple. And Prabhupāda's whole mood was to make these temples to create create an environment where the followers of his God would come in. Imagine if he did in the Mayapur, Vṛndāvana temple, how you would feel. Kṛṣṇa empowered Prabhupāda to do all these miracles just in a short time. And after Prabhupāda's departure, where there are more temples. Yeah. Maharaj about Vapu and Vadi association. It is very difficult to bear the separation of the Vapu association. When we are with the Gurumaharaj, it is so enlivening and so spiritually enriching. But we could not bear the separation from the devotees for long. So how to bear that separation pain? It's really difficult many times. It may be difficult. It's a reality that you have to face up. Even in the ISKCON movement, too many of our leaders have departed. But their followers, are getting disassociated. And it's going to be like a big joint family, which has the father, the uncle, and the cousins all living in the same room. And everyone knows that our wapu is temporary. If something does happen to that, They worry, "The other Godbrothers take care." In Bhakti Nityananda Seva Yatra, so many of our leaders have departed, but their disciples, all were still working enthusiastically. Prabhupāda created such an environment by which we can associate. English. Thank you. Thank you. Sometimes we, you know, when we sometimes, Maharaj, we do joke with devotees, not in a negative way but in a positive way, to create a healthy, happy environment, and not on their backs but in a group of devotees, is that okay? If we joke around, it depends what the content of the joke is. In a healthy way, to, you know, so that everybody can laugh. No, my point is we have to know joking. The word joke is very broad. You misplace me. In Krishna consciousness, we don't joke too much. It's serious. Okay, anyone? To his question, what was your answer? He can restate his question. So, Guru Mahārāja, I was asking that if we joke around among devotees, not on their backs, but among devotees, and to create a happy mood, joy mood, joyful mood. Is that okay and we are not offending the devotees? No, if your intention is good, if it is decent and encouraging. But devotees also smile. They also share jokes. But as long as it's not detrimental. Yes, look at proper picture, he's always smiling. Okay, thank you very much.