Questions and Answers

All Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj

All Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhanta  Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada

 Q. What is Jivera  Daya ,Nama ruchi and Vaishnava seva? If the jiva is by nature  eternal ,how can be mercy allotted to them?

A. The living entity is one who identifies himself with his body ,mind and senses and is generally  a conditioned soul. Consciousness pervading in the words ,mind ,soul and senses is termed as   the living entity. The Lord is the original being while his minute  fragmental portion is called the living entity and his energy  is called Maya.   The living entity endowed with consciousness with the quality of Knowledge thinks himself a the enjoyer ,knower and actor. The living has also  a very minute portion called the astral or fine body. When the gross body combines to form a  appealing form consisting of mind  ,limbs and senses like nose and eyes ,similarly there is a transcendental form too which is actually the original, eternal  form of the living entity. On the living being being showered with mercy by the  eternal form of the pure devotee then it will come to realize that it is not connected at all  with the common  four defects of the world,  as madness, imperfection of the senses ,cheating inclination and  the tendency to fall into illusion. Then the question arises what is this mercy? Observing the living entity covered with distress and freeing them from that sorrow is mercy. The living entity possesses a speck of the energy of the Lord. Although the Supreme Lord is complete with His energies, the living entity is His marginal energy and incomplete ,being  tiny particles of consciousness. In short, the living entity is either liberated or conditioned within two types of differences namely  pure and impure. In the pure state, he is completely transcendental with no material connection. In the impure state, it is in the state of unfolding itself  and strives by  pure actions to purify themselves. By the action of the illusory energy it becomes converted and impure subject to pleasure and pain. By forgetting that one is servant of Krishna , one becomes entangled in material illusory  existence. The compassion that is shown by the Liberated soul on the conditioned soul is when the conditioned soul is revolving in this material existence lured by desires of both  enjoyment and liberation, however, the liberated soul attempts to free them from their bondage .They try to lure them back to devotional service by explaining  to them  the glories of the holy name and the performance of the chanting of the Name. The conditioned souls are in various forms as in the form of birds ,beasts ,worms, insects up to trees all in that category. The trees are completely in a covered state, nevertheless by hearing the loud chanting of the holy name they  too can be delivered and brought to the path of devotional service. This is the compassion to the living entities in the spiritual light.

Q. What is the name.?

A. In the material world the name is used to indicate an object. However without understanding the nature of the object ,the name is simply not enough. We have to explain about that object by sentences in description  and then only that object will  fit that definition accordingly. But neither the name nor that apparent object has consciousness for everything here  has the tendency to change .But  pure consciousness is not subject to change. The name of Hari is complete with  transcendental mellows- rasa vai sah. There is no connection of it with material nature. As the living entity strives for this pure service then the name purified by devotion manifests on the tongue of the chanter. The Name is twofold --- primary and secondary.

A. The secondary names usually  relate to creator of the world and which  is mixed with the three modes of material nature. The creator of the universe ,the maintainer ,one who governs this universe, the Supersoul  e.t.c.  Also there is Brahman without the influence of the material energy which is considered a secondary name of the Lord. Though chanting this secondary names brings a variety of fruits but the main goal which is attainment of the spiritual realm is excluded. In the spiritual world ,devoid of material time and space there are eternally present these primary holy names. These primary names advent to dance on the tongue of highly fortunate souls by their  elevation in devotion. These holy names are  apparently connected to in the material world because of mercy bestowed  by these holy names. These names are surcharged with all the energies of the Supreme Lord. In the material world, the greatest friend of the living entity is the Holy name. One who is fully engaged in the name removes all his sorrows in good time. The holy name is greater in merit  than simply performing all the various fruitive actions. The gain of fruitive works is temporary, all is finished after the fruit is obtained. Unlike the name which is divine and its the goal as well as the devotional practice of the spiritual aspirant.

Q.How is it possible for the name   consisting of apparently material letters to be transcendental?

A. nama chintamani chaitanya rasa vigraha-----         The  Holy name and the Supreme Lord are non different. All the transcendental qualities of the Lord are present in the name as well. It is complete in every way without any trace of material infestation. It is eternally liberated and there is no question of  it being overcome by material nature at any point.   The name is Krishna himself and it is the form of all the mellows of devotion. 

Q. Sometimes the question arises, how does the name become way beyond the apparently material sounds.  

A. The name has not come from this material Universe. Only when the living entity is situated in his original identity in transcendence, he gains the qualification to chant the holy name.   A conditioned soul with his material senses is not able to chant the  pure holy name. The hladini energy is that which even gives pleasure to the Supreme Lord and it is by the mercy of this hladini energy  that causes the different changes in the identity of the person for the  pure name to manifest. It is then it will come to dance on the tongue of the devotee who has becomes purified by devotion to the Lord. The name is transcendental and  only when  chanted it manifests on the apparently material tongue of the pure devotee.                                           

Q. What is relish of the holy name? 

A. This relish  meaning is derived from an inclination developing to passion. The attachment which comes from doing something pleasing to one and symbolic of abundant joy. The name  as well as the  Lord are all eternal .The living entity is also ideally  eternal as well liberated. The liberated soul has always an eternal relish in the chanting of the holy name. The conditioned soul does not have such a relish for the name.  

Q. Vaishnava seva ,whom  do we understand by the term Vaishnava?

A.yadvishnu upasyam nityam vishnor yasaysvaromune    

Those who worship  Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Lord and  his most worshippable deity in an unalloyed fashion without break can be termed as a Vaishnava. Those who chant the holy name free from offences is a VaIshnava. The devotees who understand  in truth ,the connecting knowledge ,the process of devotion and the goal   with exhibiting the proper behavior can be called a pure Vaishnava.   Although there are four defined castes in the Varna- ashrama system in society the Vaishnava is independent of all these castes and above by itself. There are three types of Vaishnavas known  as lowly, middling and those  on the highest platform. The pure devotee  is always chanting the holy name and those  simply with his mere audience in turn will be  able to chant the holy name and therefore very much to be served.  According to the degree of the  spiritual level of the devotee ,so too should  increasingly  the extent of service  be rendered. The worship, conversation with such a devotee while to some extent  or  completely fulfill his wishes is the meaning of  service to the Vaishnava .