The name of the conference is: Questions and Answers (Harikesa Swami)
Text 7015: 30.06.94 11:28 SST /31 lines/ Sacidulal (das) BCS
(Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <1>
Subject: time of Brahmas
meditation
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupada
PAMHO, AGTSP.
We allways hear that Brahma meditates quite a long time befor Krsna does reveal Himself in his heart.
In SB 3.8.20 Maitreya says that while searching in that way about his existence, Brahma reached his ultimate time,.......
and in SB 3.8.22: “At the end of Brahma’s one hundred years, when his meditation was complete, he developed the required knowledge, ...” In the purport of this text, Srila Prabhupada explains that this one hundred years are counted as Brahma’s years.
Further in SB 3.10.5:
Maitreya said: “O Vidura, Brahma thus engaged himself in penances for one hundred CELESTIAL years, as advised by the Personality of Godhead, and applied himself in devotional service of the Lord.”
It looks like he did this penances for one hundred celestial years after he saw the Lord which gave him this advice before.
Please could you kindly explain how to understand.
How does Brahma, who has already meditate one hundred of his years then start to create the universe?
Your servant
(Text 7015) ------------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 7159 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 7159: 30.06.94 16:56 SST /10 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 7015 by Sacidulal
(das) BCS (Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <2>
Subject: time of Brahmas
meditation
------------------------------------------------------------
It cannot be so that Brahma is meditating for 100 of his years, because then he would have not time to create. It must be that it is 100 other kinds of years. Perhaps 100 celestial years. But a celestial year according to the demigod is a very short time for Brahma. So all we can say is that he meditated for some time, and then after that he applied himself in creation. More than this we cannot explain. Hare Krishna.
HS/draj
(Text 7159) ------------------------------------------------
Text 13563: 17.07.94 04:43 SST /12 lines/ Sri Govinda (das) PVS
(Novokuznetsk - R)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <3>
Subject: Cakri
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Guru Maharaj.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
I have a question about the position of the Lord Cakri.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.1.23 it is said in purport:
... is the chief. Lord Krsna, being the original Visnu form, has only one emblem, namely the wheel, and therefore He is sometimes called the Cakri. The Lord’s cakra is the symbol of the power by which the Lord controls the whole manifestation. The tops of Visnu temples are marked ... How must we understand that Lord Krsna with cakra is original?
Your servant Sri Govinda das (Text 13563) ----------------------------------------------- (Comment in text 13774 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 13774: 17.07.94 14:54 SST /7 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 13563 by Sri
Govinda (das) PVS (Novokuznetsk - R)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <4>
Subject: Cakri
------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Krsna is the original Visnu form because He is the source of all Visnu forms. All forms of Visnu emmanate from Him. Therefore He is the original carrier of the cakra (in His Vasudeva feature) and then He gives the cakra over to the Visnu murtis that expand from Him.
Actually it is very simple.
(Text 13774) -----------------------------------------------
Text 14629: 19.07.94 12:33 SST /13 lines/ Ranechara (das) HKS
(Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <5>
Subject: Prasadam sevaya
prayers on Ekadasi
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Please accept my most humble obeisances in dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Now it is the standard in the temple that we do not chant the prasadam-seva prayers on Ekadasi.
Is this actually the bonafide standard not to chant this prayer and if it is the standard why shouldn’t we do this?
Most the devotees do not know the “maha prasadam govinde” prayer so therefore shouldn’t we pray anything before prasadam on Ekadasi?
Your servant
Ranechara Dasa
(Text 14629) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 14675 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 14675: 19.07.94 15:08 SST /9 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 14629 by Ranechara
(das) HKS (Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <6>
Subject: Prasadam sevaya
prayers on Ekadasi
------------------------------------------------------------
The reason we do not say the normal prasadam prayer on ekadasi (or ap-pearance days of Visnu where there is an ekadasi feast) is because the prayer says ‘sab prasada anna dilo bhai’. ‘Anna’ means grains. Because there are no grains on ekadasi, we do not speak about the grains, and therefore we do not chant the prayer.
If someone knows the ‘maha-prasada govinde’ prayer, then they can lead it slowly and everyone else can follow. No problem.
(Text 14675) -----------------------------------------------
Text 15134: 20.07.94 11:00 SST /17 lines/ Rajavidya (das) HKS
(Govinda’s Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <7>
Subject: Obeisances
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
In his Istagosthi conference, Srila Jayapataka Maharaja lately wrote the following to one of his disciples:
“Thank you for offering your “respectful obeisances”. Often devotees offer “humble obeisances” to the spiritual master which is out of the proper etiquette. “Humble obeisances” was given by Srila Prabhupada for use between peers and general devotees, but when we wrote to the spiritual master we used the phrase “respectful obeisances” as you have done. It is nice that you are preserving this correct etiquette...”
My question is whether you also prefer that standard to be followed by your disciples.
(Text 15134) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 15345 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 15345: 20.07.94 19:40 SST /3 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 15134 by Rajavidya
(das) HKS (Govinda’s Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <8>
Subject: Obeisances
------------------------------------------------------------
Not required. I used to write to Srila Prabhupada and still do, by saying
‘Humble obeisances.’
(Text 15345) -----------------------------------------------
Text 15643: 21.07.94 13:00 SST /12 lines/ Ranechara (das) HKS
(Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <9>
Subject: ®maha-prasade
govinde¯
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupada,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Regarding the prayer ®maha-prasade govinde¯, is this prayer in the same way related as the prasadam-sevaya prayer? Can we use it or should we use it? As far as I know you mentioned that this ®maha-prasade-govinde® has not much to do with prasadam?
Your humble servant
Ranechara Dasa
(Text 15643) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 15811 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 15708: 21.07.94 15:56 SST /19 lines/ (Bhakta) Gusseyn (AZ)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <10>
Subject: Guru - daksina .
------------------------------------------------------------
Please accept my humble obeisances .
In several places in his books Srila Prabhupada noticed that one should not try to advance and purify one’s service just by devising out oneself the ways and methods according with our present nature . But to do it just by praying to the Supreme and His bona fide representatives .
Can one offer prayers to the Deities in accordance with one’s present nature or that is also not recomended ?
&
One should have constant desire to satisfy his spiritual master . Is the guru -daksina just the external and formal point of whole this service , or except quantitative there is also a qualitative difference of these offerings ?
your servant ,bh. Gussein .
(Text 15708) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 15812 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 15811: 21.07.94 19:52 SST /8 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 15643 by Ranechara
(das) HKS (Zurich - CH)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <11>
Subject: ®maha-prasade
govinde¯
------------------------------------------------------------
No, the prayer starts off by saying maha prasada govinde as one of the items which are favorable for devotional service. This means the prasadam of the Lord. I previously passed a comment because of reading a transla-tion of the prayer which was given by Prabhupada in the 1950’s, but that translation was incomplete and therefore it gave the wrong impression.
The prayer is alright for ekadasis and so on.
(Text 15811) -----------------------------------------------
Text 15812: 21.07.94 19:52 SST /15 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 15708 by (Bhakta)
Gusseyn (AZ)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <12>
Subject: Guru - daksina .
------------------------------------------------------------
It is difficult to say what it means to pray to the Deities according to one’s nature. If one is so contaminated that his material nature is prominent, then the best thing is to take prayers which have been offered by the previous acaryas and great souls and repeat them before the Deities. It is not good to just babble some conditioned thoughts before the Lord according to one’s material nature. But if one is more advanced then he can offer suitable prayers to the Lord according to his spiritual nature and that is nice.
Guru daksine means to offer something of value to the spiritual master in thanks for his having saved us. This can be money, energy, physical things in one’s possessions and so on. One should offer everything to the spiritual master, both of high quality and as much quantity as possible. Both types of offerings are required.
(Text 15812) -----------------------------------------------
Text 16025: 22.07.94 11:22 SST /19 lines/ Mukhya (dd) HKS (NE-BBT
Bulgarian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <13>
Subject: Getting free from
material desires
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupad, please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.
In the Fourth Canto (4.29.69) I came across am amazing verse and purport. It is said there thaht by the mercy of the Lord the whole stockpile of material desires can become visible in the mind of the devotee and in one stroke one is freed from all past and future mental desires. In this way one can finish all his future transmigrations. Srila Prabhupada also says that sometimes a devotee has his desires fulfilled in a dream because he does not have to accept a future gross body.
Is this a description of the last stage of the gradual purification of the devotee? How can we understand it in terms of the technical description of the development of one’s spiritual life (sraddha, sadhu-sanga, bhajana-kriya, etc.). What is the significance of the desires being fulfilled in a dream? We generally hear that dreams are not to be taken seriously and we should not sleep too much because then we will have too meny dreams and will become bewildered in mind.
Your servant Mukhya d.d.
(Text 16025) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 16144 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 16144: 22.07.94 16:56 SST /19 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 16025 by Mukhya
(dd) HKS (NE-BBT Bulgarian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <14>
Subject: Getting free from
material desires
------------------------------------------------------------
You may experience the whole lot of material desires on the mental platform at the end of life, and the materialists often speak about this. But this is not the usual way a devotee experiences it since the devotee is being purified each and every day by devotional service. Therefore a devotee can experience these desires either in a lump consisting of more than one desire and reaction up to the limit of all desires and reactions, or he can experience them singly, one at a time, in dreams.
Dreams are generally a waste of time, you are correct. However, when the dream is about devotional service, then it is spiritual and under the control of Krsna (instead of the modes of nature). If the material desires are being burned off in dreams, then this is also positive and therefore, from that point of view, it is not a waste of time. So do not be afraid to suffer in dreams. It is useful.
One devotee once had a terrible dream where he was chopped to pieces. He told this to Prabhupada who then said it was good because then it didn’t have to happen on the gross platform.
(Text 16144) -----------------------------------------------
Text 19779: 01.08.94 12:28 SST /16 lines/ Sridam (das) HKS (NE-BBT
Russian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <16>
Subject: Hearing the
philosophy
------------------------------------------------------------
Please accept my humble obeisances.
In Russia I met some devotees who supported the following ideas: A neofite devotee shouldn’t hear philosophy from anyone exept for his spiritual master (that means not even from the Godbrothers of his spiritual master), because if another authority says something different from what his spititual master says it will shake the devotee’s faith in his guru. But when one is advanced enough and his faith is fixed, one can hear philosophy from anyone, even from non-ISKCON gurus etc.
Can you please explain what is the correct attitude to hearing the philosophy?
Y.s.
(Text 19779) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 19891 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 19891: 01.08.94 15:24 SST /11 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 19779 by Sridam
(das) HKS (NE-BBT Russian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <17>
Subject: Hearing the
philosophy
------------------------------------------------------------
It sounds like a philosophical concept created by neophyte devotees. One should of course hear from his own spiritual master. But he should also hear from all other vaisnavas as well, and we practice that in ISKCON by having classes given by other vaisnavas. In case of dispute then we simply accept what was spoken by Srila Prabhupada. We should accept what is stated by others, even though we might have a special liking for what comes from our own spiritual master. It is not at all correct to say that one should hear only from his spiritual master. This is false and nowhere stated in Prabhupada’s books, or GBC resolutions or any bona-fide authori-ty. It is mental speculation.
(Text 19891) ----------------------------------------------- (Comment in private text 29715 by Murali (dd) HKS (Munich - D))
Text 21501: 05.08.94 09:29 SST /13 lines/ Sridam (das) HKS (NE-BBT
Russian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <18>
Subject: Kirtan rules
------------------------------------------------------------
Please accept my humble obeisances.
In Druskininkay we had a discussion about kirtan. While everybody agreed that kirtan should be as nice as possible, at one point the devotees splitted in two groups. Some said that if someone is going out of tune or isn’t following the time, kirtan leader (or for that matter anyone with better musical ear) could correct him and even stop the kirtan if necessery. The other group maintained that any interruption of the kirtan is an offence to the Deities and all remarks and corrections should be done after the kirtan.
Could you please tell what is the right thing to do in such a situation?
Y.s.
(Text 21501) -----------------------------------------------
(Comment in text 21660 by Harikesa Swami)
Text 21660: 05.08.94 15:04 SST /6 lines/ Harikesa Swami
Comment on: Text 21501 by Sridam
(das) HKS (NE-BBT Russian)
Receiver: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) <19>
Subject: Kirtan rules
------------------------------------------------------------
If someone is out of time and cannot lead properly, those who know better should simply stop him while the devotees are responding and then take over the kirtan and lead it properly. This is not an offense but rather we should do whatever is required to have proper kirtan for the Lord. Later on, that devotee should be instructed how to lead kirtan properly.
(Text 21660) -----------------------------------------------
Text 22698 (22 lines)
From: (Bhakta) Gusseyn
(AZ)
Date: 08-Aug-94 10:21
SST
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [21]
Subject: Proper relations .
------------------------------------------------------------
Please accept my humble obeisances .
It is said that we should be very attentive and personal in assosiation one each other .That should be done accordingly to the etiquete between younger devotees , equals and those who is siniour devotees .The double line of varnasrama-like kind of treatments is also there .
Except the Pure Devotee - who is very rare , nobody is really fixed in his devotional situation ,espesially in the sense of certain varna or asrama .
My question is what should be done if somebody acts ruled by qualities of another varna - for instance :
Brahmana acts like vaisya or even like ksatriya .
Should he be treated accordingly ? And if woman wants to instruct - what should be done ?
I’m sorry for these questions - I ask because sometimes nonfault-finding may be considering as an impersonal quality and that is the opposite one to the very name of our MOVEment of Lord Caitanya .
Y s bh Gussein .
(Text 22698) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 22782 by Harikesa Swami
Text 22782 (9 lines)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 08-Aug-94 14:44
SST
Refernce: Text 22698 by
(Bhakta) Gusseyn (AZ)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [22]
Subject: Proper relations .
------------------------------------------------------------
A devotee in ISKCON can act according to any of the varnas and not become contaminated. This is because a vaisnava is transcendental to the varnas. So according to the principle ‘do the needfull’ a devotee may act in different ways for the satisfaction of Krsna. And usually if the devotee is acting in some way other than a brahmana it is because he is instructing others how to act in their proper capacity and not because he is degrading himself.
So there is no need to criticize.
(Text 22782) -----------------------------------------------
Text 22874 (3 lines)
From: Das Avatara
(das) HKS (Leipzig - D)
Date: 08-Aug-94 19:26
SST
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [23]
Subject: number of jivas
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupada!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Is the number of jivas always the same?
(Text 22874) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 23110 by Harikesa Swami
Text 23110 (13 lines)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 09-Aug-94 15:52
SST
Refernce: Text 22874 by Das
Avatara (das) HKS (Leipzig - D)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [26]
Subject: number of jivas
------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, what a question! If I say, no, they are expanding, then the question of creation comes up, which is not possible since the souls are eternal, and if I say yes, then the question of why there is no expansion since everything in the spiritual world is expanding.
However, the fact is that there is no creation of the soul, so there is no question that the jivas are increasing in number. However, Krsna is unlimited and unlimited jivas are emanating from His form in the form of rays of the brahman. These souls are within Krsna and are coming from Him. They are not created, but are manifesting outside His form into the creation.
I hope that answers the question.
(Text 23110) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 24460 by Ciranjiva (das) HKS (Copenhagen - DK)
Text 24460 (4 lines)
From: Ciranjiva (das)
HKS (Copenhagen - DK)
Date: 12-Aug-94 19:07
SST
Refernce: Text 23110 by
Harikesa Swami
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [35]
Subject: number of jivas
------------------------------------------------------------
Pamho.
Since the souls are within Krsna and emanating from him, then the argument can be that the ultimate goal of life is to enter back into him because that’s where we come from.
(Text 24460) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 24475 by Harikesa Swami
Text 24475 (2 lines)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 12-Aug-94 19:38
SST
Refernce: Text 24460 by
Ciranjiva (das) HKS (Copenhagen - DK)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [36]
Subject: number of jivas
------------------------------------------------------------
Some think that is the goal and try for that. However, the sastra says that the goal is to serve Krsna in Goloka. That defeats that argument.
(Text 24475) -----------------------------------------------
Text 22881 (13 lines)
From: Yadunandana
(das) HKS (Copenhagen - HKS)
Date: 08-Aug-94 19:39
SST
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [24]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
Today I happened to notice that one of my godbrothers chanted backwards on the japamala. In other words he moved the beeds the opposite direction to what is, as far as I know, the usual practice.
I asked if he couldn’t move the beeds the other way. And he asked for sastric reference. I couldn’t give that. Is there such a thing as a rule for which direction to move the beeds?
I’m just thinking if one starts a center and teaches new devotees to chant, and starts a new practice of moving the beeds backwards. It may sound a little silly, but I’m askin anyway.
(Text 22881) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 23111 by Harikesa Swami
Text 23111 (23 lines)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 09-Aug-94 15:52
SST
Refernce: Text 22881 by
Yadunandana (das) HKS (Copenhagen - HKS)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [27]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
Oops. I am caught.
Way back when, when I started chanting japa, no one told me which direction to pull or push the beads in, so I just started speculating thinking that it doesn’t matter. So I started chanting by pulling the beads in the opposite direction of everyone else. This went on for about 10 years before I suddenly discovered that everyone else chants in the other way. But by then it was too late and the practice was so ingrained that I couldn’t change it. It was intolerable to change. Even yesterday, for some reason, I was contemplating this situation and even tried to change, but it caused such a problem in my mind and ruined my japa that I switched back to what is ‘normal’ for me.
So this is my confession. I also do it backwards. Will I still go back to Godhead? When I am at the gates of Vaikuntha, will Jaya and Vijaya tell me to return because I chanted backwards? I hope not. But for one who has the chance to change while he is still young, he should change and chant according to the normal means. I do not know of sastric reference to this detail, but I am sure that other scholars like Bhanu Swami and Krsna Ksetra das do know some reference. In any case it should be done the way Prab-hupada did it.
And everyone should learn the proper way from the start. (Text 23111) ----------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 23117 by Labangalatika (dd) HKS (Almvik - S)
Text 23117 (3 lines)
From: Labangalatika
(dd) HKS (Almvik - S)
Date: 09-Aug-94 16:20
SST
Refernce: Text 23111 by
Harikesa Swami
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [28]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sri Visnupada, pamho.
Which way is the proper way?
y.s.
(Text 23117) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 23515 by Harikesa Swami
Text 23515 (1 line)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 10-Aug-94 14:37
SST
Refernce: Text 23117 by
Labangalatika (dd) HKS (Almvik - S)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [29]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
The hands should move in a clockwise fashion around the beads.
Comments: Text 26797 by Madana-Manohara (das) HKS (Heidelberg - D)
Text 26797 (11 lines)
From: Madana-Manohara
(das) HKS (Heidelberg - D)
Date: 17-Aug-94 16:47
SST
Refernce: Text 23515 by
Harikesa Swami
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [44]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Sorry to bring up this issue again but as I made a small survey with the devotees here in HD we found out that if “clockwise” is the right way we all do it wrong. Also in the appendix in our books about japa it is shown the other direction and anatomically it is more difficult because it is “backwards”. Of course for left-handers the contrary is true. How important is it? Please tell us what to do!
Have Krsna Ksetra Prabhu (he’s a lefthander) and Bhanu Swami already been asked?
(Text 26797) -----------------------------------------------
Comments: Text 26899 by Harikesa Swami
Text 26899 (4 lines)
From: Harikesa Swami
Date: 17-Aug-94 19:51
SST
Refernce: Text 26797 by
Madana-Manohara (das) HKS (Heidelberg - D)
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [46]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
Look, I don’t have the faintest idea in the world what is the proper way to do it. I always thought that I did it backwards because some devotees told me that. Now maybe they were wrong. Please ask the authorities, KKDas and Bhanu Swami.
Comments: Text 32044 by Lalitanatha (das) HKS (Copenhagen - DK)
Text 32044 (9 lines)
From: Lalitanatha
(das) HKS (Copenhagen - DK)
Date: 31-Aug-94 16:25
SST
Refernce: Text 26899 by
Harikesa Swami
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [55]
Subject: Japa
------------------------------------------------------------
I came across a reference in Hari-bhakti-vilasa about this point. It goes:
“Keeping teh beads on the mid of one’s ring finger, one should in a murmuring sound, one should not keep the beads on the pointing finger and chant japa. Chanting japa with the pointing finger has to be rejected. One by one, putting the beads inwards and chanting japa is recommended. Oh dear wife, one should not jump over the head of the japa beads. Otherwise he will not get the results of his chanting.” (HBV 17-114,115).
Your humble servant, Lalitanatha dasa
(Text 32044) -----------------------------------------------
Text 24187 (6 lines)
From: Isvara Puri
(das) HKS (NE-BBT)
Date: 12-Aug-94 09:42
SST
To: Questions and
Answers (Harikesa Swami) [30]