Japa-session with Bangalor Devotees

Fasting principles and rules for Ekadasi

0:00I'm very happy to be with all of you. Voice is little low. Okay. Is it okay now? I I can I can come little quicker. No, it's okay with that. Mm-hmm. Yes, I'm very happy to be with all of you again.

0:21You want to say some words and before question answer? Okay, I'll I'll speak a little bit, there are some questions about uh ekādaśī So I'll speak about how is it possible without water.

0:44One thing we should know that the body adjusts and if we follow ekādaśī strictly after a couple of times it will become easier and easier and easier.

1:09It is uh maybe a little difficult because the body is not used to these austerities. But uh after two, three times the body actually very happily accepts this sort of tapasya.

1:36And actually the systems of the body, they need some rest. Otherwise they're working, you know, twenty-four hours a day, uh, and

1:46uh you know by fasting on ekādaśī we give some welcome rest to systems, the digestion system, and all other systems.

2:04And um yeah, usually you know strictly speaking ekādaśī means nir jala ekādaśī, it means complete rest to all the systems of the body and you know being closer to God by chanting the holy name and reading and hearing.

2:31If you cannot do this, you can drink water, if you cannot do this, you can take fruits, but you know there are different concessions.

2:40And the most important is of course the intention because Bhāva Grāhi Janārdana Krishna accepts our bhava, our desire to do something for him.

3:04The Mari Bahan on the Sala either put the clergy, like in the Mari over the Sulay or like the Hella Putter. Am I an Modima? No matter than the Mari Pan with the Pony Glan.

3:23And actually the fasting starts today because today is Dashame and we kind of tune up to the fasting for the next day if we properly make our mind proper then it will be very easy and uh actually very nice.

3:45If we say yes I will fast no problem, it's uh not a big deal, it's it's very good for me and it's very good for Krishna he appreciates this. So today already you have to start uh kind of tuning up towards the ekādaśī.

4:23As far as nirjala without water, those who want strictly follow, Then in the scriptures it is very clearly said that Nirjal is from sunrise to sunrise.

4:36So before sunrise you can take some water and then you have to avoid taking water till the next sunrise. Nirjala ekādaśī, other than nirjala, Astrangler K, Suria the Tilda Suria of the Mm. From sūryodaya to sūryodaya.

5:01Kali Lavande Surya Pigmanita Nikurchila Anala Kala Suriya Pigmanikur Chitti. I capra Suryya to Surya the Arium.

5:15And ekādaśī definitely the main idea of ekādaśī it's called upavāsa. Upavāsa means you're closer to God, you're sitting close to God. So this is the main idea of ekādaśī.

5:43The main idea is not that you avoid eating, the main idea is that you avoid destruction uh and try to be closer to God and then it will give very great

5:59benefit to you are the Yeka Muki no come, Yekat is an Mukino and the Nerkam for the Nerikama por the every Pananga yosh Parton Matar Muki Mukima.

6:13Actually, the very idea of ekādaśī is a great manifestation of God's mercy upon us because sometimes people they're not so spiritual, but by some reason they may accidentally fast

6:29on ekādaśī and uh unknowingly it will give great benefit to them and all of a sudden they will start thinking about God and uh become closer to God.

6:53It's a very powerful anger, very powerful uh limp of spiritual practice and uh only very stupid people will not take advantage of it. It's really And it's not really difficult. Again, it's a question of uh being used to it.

7:29Okay, I guess that's enough.

Russian devotees practicing Ekadasi fasting

7:32I I have a doubt, Maharaj. How did you convince Russian people to follow ekādaśī? Because Russian people ekādaśī, all those things is a very odd thing.

7:41Kelvi and Maharajan Rashadaka If you tell them they will be very enthusiastic about it. And uh and they also quite austere people.

8:16They like all kinds of austerities, they understand that uh if we do some austerity, if we limit uh or uh someho or if we do some austerity, then it will be good for us so it's not so difficult.

8:41Yeah, because conditions uh external conditions environment in Russia is much harder, uh, it's much more austere, severe winters, you know, and so many other problems. So they're used to all kinds of austerities.

9:13Fasting for one day is not a problem Especially during Soviet Union there was no food, so fasting was good.

9:26Soviet Union Among vegetables at that time there was only carrot, cabbage, and potato, so mm So fasting would mean one day without potato. Sorry, Marat? Fasting would mean one day without potato. Not such a big deal.

10:17When you were when some devotees were jailed, how did they follow? That's difficult. That's probably difficult. But they would probably fast for one day but it uh completely but it was difficult definitely.

10:31The main difficulty was that they didn't know when ekādaśī is, because in jail they're not so free in regard to this information. So that would be the difficulty. Otherwise, you know they would fast yeah.

Health and spiritual reasons against grains on Ekadasi

10:56And then we keep keeping former So chat as on will see. There is a question about, can we take oats in the chat on ekādaśī? Let me explain a little bit about this.

11:30Why we avoid certain food on ekādaśī? Why certain food is specifically prohibited on ekādaśī?

11:40So if we take grains or if we take vegetables, there is a difference when we boil vegetables, they don't really change the size, but if we take grains, the grains will usually increase in size 2, 3, 4 times.

12:12Or if we take uh legumes like dal or something like this, they also increase very much in size. They uh they become different when we boil them.

12:28So this kind of food is is more difficult to digest and it takes more energy from our system to be assimilated or digested within the body. In the mari one of the what amounts zero number of jaspia.

12:52Uh because it's it's m the nature is different. It gives more energy definitely than vegetables, but uh it takes also more energy to digest it.

13:11Actually, why from the strictly medical point of view, why or from Ayurveda point of view, why do we fast on ekādaśī?

13:21It's because the mind on ekādaśī is still peaceful, but it will be disturbed on on trajodes, Chaturdeshi, Purnima or Amawasya. So vi preparer ourselves to this day when the mind will naturally be disturbed.

14:01You know this there are different very complex processes which uh which is going on in the body and basically that's uh the precaution uh to make our mind still very focused and concentrated and nice during these difficult days when it's naturally disturbed due to the phase of the moon, due to So

14:37So, therefore, the main prohibition to to fast on a ekādaśī what we shouldn't take on ekādaśī we shouldn't take oṣadhi. Oṣadhi is a special kind of plant which only lives for one year and when it lives it gives all its power to the seeds.

15:02Mukima see aneki Irahe and a Zavaranglas Apropla, the word versus the word versus the Pulata Nora Satiala, but they could like Christ who the wheat or oats, they only live for one year and gives all the energy of the plant to the seed.

15:26And uh seed in the maritime And all these plants they also you know the seeds they they absorbed a lot of uh water to be to be digested. They need a lot of water to be digested.

15:52And therefore they are more difficult to digest, uh although they give more energy, uh and uh they're specifically prohibited on ekādaśī.

16:08It is said in the Puranas that the pop, the uh sin enters into the grains on the ekādaśī day and therefore when we eat it uh uh we eat sin. What does it mean?

16:34It basically means that if we eat grains on an ekādaśī day, it will activate certain areas or certain sections of our brain or of our mind which will basically strengthen or enforce our tendency to enjoy in this world.

16:57Namaica Nik Daniel Saprona and Pogadi and the other tundum and the pogodium day the Volagata Adhima Namanu Kiraka and the Volaka Jada Vakata and we get an ase law the Adhima Tundra put the Tundi put. Because what is sin?

17:13Sin is this tendency to enjoy uh without any restrictions in this world. This is the sin.

17:29And if we eat grains on the ekādaśī, it will activate uh this sort of uh sections of our brain on this sort of areas in our mind and ultimately will be very unbenicial, very detrimental to us.

17:55So oats is also not so much recommended on ekādaśī.

18:02Adiyama Paranjapala. Ekadesinic alarm the Ventikra, Vitler Kraati and the Bury Ekadeshi Matumad, Perdamer Kasolong, Bather America, either what I'll read and lack Paniwak engine and the Uri Ekadeshi, Batha Mika So we can start with question answer questions.

18:19Yes, sure. Somebody wants to know the difference between mind and buddhi and there are two people who have unmuted. Radha Matadhi. Dandar Pranam Buruji and Murakshya Muraksyam Prabhuji both of you.

18:43Thanks for bringing uh Maharaj here. Maharaj, actually our Kanchi sage told in Russia all rishis were lived. So I think uh you are all descendants of rishis.

18:58That is why you are able to easily control your mind and uh uh adjust to any sort of uh climate conditions and you people are what you call very intelligent in this rocket science and astronomical this thing.

19:16That is why Russian scientists are very famous for satellite launching and other things no so I think Russia is very much blessed that way and that's why you are able to give us such a in-depth

19:33knowledge to all of us regarding ekādaśī. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Thank you. All rights, Krishna. Yes. I am an ordinary soul. Have to get blessing from you people.

Fasting concessions and Bhima Nirjala Ekadasi

20:36Vijay Prabha, Vijay Prabha. Namaskaram, Maharaj. In Mahābhārata, Bhīma followed this nirjala ekādaśī with no water, even no water.

20:53So if I follow the same principle, so I will get all the benefit that all other ekādaśī benefits. Is it for only for Bhīma or not for us also? Because Bhīma had very voracious agni, this special agni in his stomach.

21:39But even though we don't have such a strong agni we still can take advantage of this. But we should also understand that uh all these concessions which are there we should not misuse or uh abuse these concessions.

22:11If we can fast on ekādaśī, it's better to fast on ekādaśī and not to count on this Bhīma-nirjala-ekādaśī because again, bhāva-grāhī Janārdana Krishna accepts our desire to do something for him.

22:38If by some accident we broke ekādaśī unwillingly, then there is this Bhīma-nirjala-ekādaśī which will help us to kind of remove this inattentiveness. But otherwise you know it's it's not the we

22:59shouldn't take it as uh as a license to uh neglect

23:04all other ekādaśīs. But and I either find but it made the Ega the Siveran Lumurikireco or the Alexima Kanebury Kirako and the Marinama Marimanapan. But definitely, yes, we can we can take advantage of this Kadesh. And uh as I said, the Kadeshi is for us to take advantage of them. It's the manifestation of Krishna's mercy, special mercy upon us.

23:47Krishna Bhakti Karana Yoda very far the Yes. Ramakhakti. And uh one more question, uh can we drink the buttermilk because our body is so neat now? So can we drink uh buttermilk?

Progression from Sadhana-bhakti to Prema-bhakti

24:16Matha Kelviana, the Mari Namamor Kuri Klamaki Radakali, I got the Sadhana Bhaktia Prema Bhakti pre Matha. So the question was how to convert Sadhana Bhakti into Prama Bhakti or how yes, yes, yes.

24:33It's a very good question. Roman I like Eli. Um To m for that it's very important for us to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

24:57And not only to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but also to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, how Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is being explained by those people who understand Bhagavatam is being explained by those people who understand the mystery of this book.

25:16When we follow sadhana we prepare our heart to we clean our heart, we clean our consciousness initially. And our heart is like mirror, it reflects it. When the mirror is very dirty, its reflective ability is much less.

25:47It doesn't really reflect anything because it's covered by dust and by all kinds of dirt.

26:05But when the mirror of our heart, mirror of our consciousness becomes very clean, then it will start reflecting the emotions of the highly advanced devotees.

26:24Suttamana Jana and the Puraema de Teliva Pradivali Karam Chu Muta Vakta Hal Mari uh when we will read about how the very advanced devotees, pure devotees uh serve Krishna, we will feel the same or reflection, some little glimpse of these emotions within our own heart.

26:52And when we associate with such devotees who are really emotionally involved in their relationship with Krishna, we also feel this their emotions reflected within our heart.

27:13So this is how from you know following sadhana we become emotionally involved in our relationship with Krishna and ultimately attain bhāva and premā in the... Konyama Namura In

27:40the beginning we tried to become humble to, try to become tolerant, we try to respect every living beings, not to accept respect to others. This is you know our sadhana.

27:55Then when it becomes our nature it means when we naturally humble, naturally respectful, naturally you know don't expect not ambitious, don't expect too much respect or praises towards us.

28:14Then it means that our heart is clean.

28:37yes, in the in the beginning we follow this discipline, Mariada, and then when the heart becomes clean, then naturally it will take place when we read uh Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or associate with very highly advanced devotees.

29:05And the second question was about buttermilk. Yes, definitely. Buttermilk you can take. It's actually it's actually very good. You can take buttermilk.

29:16You know, in uh in uh in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, it is set you can even take ghee, you know, if if it's absolutely uh necessary uh but uh no grains. Yes.

Sharing spiritual knowledge without formal initiation

29:52Uh uh Maharaj Prabhu Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna. Uh Prabhu I've just got a couple of questions to ask. chances that we could directly meet you or seek your blessings probably with the Bangalore or something.

30:11Uh it's about me? Yeah. How do I how do I seek your blessings? You know, being being a devotee, how I would like to um uh you know seek your blessings as much as possible. But how could I directly do that?

30:27Uh uh at the moment I'm not in Bangalore, but I will come to Bangalore mm sometime this year, hopefully if Krishna allows. Then we can meet.

30:38But at the moment I'm in Māyāpur and I'm planning to go to Russia after some time but let's see how it works. Um I thought probably or you know somebody around Europe or something.

30:55So that you know I I will come to Bangalore. Okay, so is there any medium through which that you know probably like through Madhusesha dasa probably something? Could we just connect you through probably if at all okay.

31:10S y y you meant to say that you want to because I being a devotee, I mean I do not wanna miss out this chance because I've never seen Prabhupada but when whenever I see you I do not know what happens, you know, this ecstasy or even the tears that comes or I I just I could connect you you so very well with to that of Prabhupada. So I would not like to miss out this chance.

31:32Probably because of the pandemic, I understand, but on so if um I mean by God's grace with Krishna's mercy if if we could like you know take seek your blessings, it would be really great. I'll be happy to do it.

31:53Anyway, if you can come, I'm in Mayapur near Calcutta till the 5th of uh yeah. In Delhi, I'll I'll be in Delhi on the fourth of July,

32:05but uh otherwise I'll I'll I'll hopefully come to Bangalore sometime later this year, maybe in uh probably in November, December, not before that. Alright, okay. I think that would be yes.

32:21And uh Prabhu I also have another question. Um Maharaj uh um there's this one question that I always have. It's regarding uh uh even without I have not taken diksha yet.

32:34So is it possible for a person to um impart knowledge, uh transcendental knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā? Oh yes, sure. Sure, sure, sure. You don't need to have diksha for this.

32:47You can you can tell whatever you realize to other people uh that's uh that's absolutely necessary and it will be very good for them and for you. You please translate you.

33:14Because Maharaj I'm a teacher, so material knowledge is something for imparting every day. So I would love to uh also impart uh not impart but probably uh make my students realize the transcendental knowledge. Absolutely.

33:27It's very, very important. Please do it. And if Prabhu allows me with the third one sub-quest, just will uh quick one.

34:07I'm following an Ekādaśī-vrata, but my husband The order of doctor or order of the spiritual master: don't break the ekādaśī.

34:27If the doctor says that he should eat certain items on this day, that's fine, that's not a problem. So just do the needful.

34:39I I'm not so familiar with the limitations, but you know, try as much as possible, but if you need to eat, you definitely should eat.

Natural changes in worship taste during bhakti

35:15Next question, guruji. She was previously doing all those worships, other worships including chanting a stotra and uh doing some puja for the lamp and lighting the lamps and everything.

36:17But nowadays when we start chanting, we feel we feel so satisf we feel so satisfied with these things and we naturally lose the taste for all other things. So is it right or we have to continue that?

36:30Hope to do it's very right, it is said in Śrīmad- Bhāgavatam that uh when you take bhakti, then three processes simultaneously take part in your heart.

36:50As much as when you take food, there are three processes which take part in your heart when you eat, anubandham. With every morsel of food you get tushti means satisfaction.

37:14You get tushti, tripti karam. You get pushti nourishment. Pushti, and you get kshudānubandham means uh uh your hunger will be re will reduce.

37:39In the same way when we uh perform bhakti, when we do some spiritual practice in Krishna bhakti, we feel the presence of God which is compared to Pushti,

37:59we feel parāśhānubhava and uh virakti, we feel the indifference to everything else and we feel very much satisfaction in the heart. These three things take place simultaneously. So you are in the right path.

38:25So are the three of the virakti?

Fasting rules for sunrise and health conditions

38:29Bhakti, parāśhānubhava, and virakti. Bhakti means satisfaction in the heart, parāśhānubhava the experience of the Lord, of the presence of the Lord and Virakti

38:45indifference. Maharaj uh Dandavat pranam uh uh I want to uh pay my obeisances uh we And my question is that uh our Vaishnava calendar says that uh the fasting begins tomorrow

39:23by uh 6:01 a.m. My question is whether we could have water before 6 a.m.

39:29and you told us that uh you can uh you can have water before the sunrise, whether it is uh by six o'clock or uh by four o'clock. I wake up uh regularly for chanting and uh uh by the uh motivation of uh uh our uh Murish Prabhu ji I am waking up by 4:00 daily, and I want to know whether uh I could have uh some water by 4:00 or 5:00. Please explain, Maharaj. Thank you, Maharaj. Please accept my uh humble obeisances. Thank you.

39:58Yeah. Kelvi alarde, what then should come out? Yes, so uh it is very clearly said in the Shastras that uh you you should not take water after sūryodaya, after the sunrise. Before sunrise you can take water, no problem.

40:34Yes, Janaki Mataji. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Only for the past five, six months I have come I have come into the fold of uh ISKCON and I'm almost 60, 60 plus, and all this ekādaśī I have not done anything.

40:51So if I do this ekādaśī, nirjala, all my ekādaśī papa, which I have eaten, will then be erased. Yes.

41:15If you do proper saṅkalpa, if your determination will be like this, uh with this determination, if you enter this, all the problems will be raised, no problem, yes. Fantastic.

41:30Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mataji, thank you so much. Yeah, it's really a question of saṅkalpa today. If you do this saṅkalpa, I will follow it strictly for this purpose, uh then it will happen.

41:55I wanted to go I wanted to kneel just please bless me. Yes. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mahārāja.

42:17Bhagavad-gītā chapter, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura... Is there any important chapter which we can read, Bhāgavatam, today, tomorrow?

42:32Any chapter of Bhāgavatam is important, but you can read the second chapter of the first canto, which describes the gradual progression in Bhakti.

42:55Yeah, this second chapter is very important for us to understand how the bhakti works and how our heart purifies and what happens when we practice bhakti.

43:12Otherwise you can also uh read uh Vṛtrāsura's story or specifically his prayers from uh the uh sixth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Vṛtrāsura-prārthanā is

43:34Like this you have to give so many other instructions also that's this record. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Prabhuji.

43:47And give some more tips for following the nirjala ekādaśī tomorrow. Tomorrow only first time we are going to do nirjala ekādaśī. So far we never did.

43:56We we used to do so many fasting, but whole day without water never did.

44:01First time we... please give some more tips, and I thought of asking what are the things we have to read, just as the mataji asked. So give some more tips because I am an oxygen diet full day. I have Again,

44:36it's a question of determination. There is another question in the chat: how Bhīma could do it? It's a question of determination.

44:46It's like this: if we say today I'll do it by all means, then it will be easy you will not even notice it. Especially if you're busy with some other things.

45:00That's very important to keep your mind engaged in something which is pleasing to you. But if you say today, okej, if it will be very difficult, then no problem.

45:26I will do something else, and you know, I will drink water or eat some nice pizza or whatever, then it for sure it will be very difficult. And this is a science which is explained in Bhagavad-gītā actually.

Importance of sankalpa in strict fasting

45:56In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that before the desire there is saṅkalpa. The desire is born from saṅkalpa, saṅkalpa jayatekama. So if your saṅkalpa is I will follow it very strictly.

46:27Then this desire to drink or to do something will be reduced very much because this saṅkalpa will create the desire to follow it very strictly.

46:47So when desire comes, it's very difficult to deal with the desire because it's a very strong force.

46:57But before the desire, eat or drink or whatever desire comes, if we have saṅkalpa, then this desire, even if it comes, it will be reduced. So that's the most important thing. That's the most important tip.

47:21If you want to follow strictly. But But if in case you cannot follow strictly, then it's allowed, you know, to drink once in the second part of the day, you know, you just drink once some water and that will be enough.

47:42That's also a possibility, which of course is not as good as nirjala, but still it's a possibility. And there was question in the chat can we take fruits or milk? Yes, definitely. You can take fruits and milk.

48:09Before that, there is a question medicines uh to eat drink medicine to eat medicine can be water. That much water. Yeah. Medicines again if it's necessary, if it's the order of the doctor, you should take it, yes.

48:30That doesn't break ekādaśī. Can we sleep? Lay down, sleep on ekādaśī. Um it's not so recommended, it's not so good.

48:45But if you need to rest, try to do just 15-20 minutes little rest, not more than this. You know, 20 minutes is still okay, uh but not more than this uh it's better to avoid it.

49:09Night rest? Night rest, yes, you can take night rest. For those who very strictly follow, they don't take rest at night, but you know, Krishna doesn't expect this from you. So just try whatever you can.

49:32Bhāva-grāhi Janārdana.

49:36Bhava Grahi Jan uh mid for last uh almost uh from now but so i will share so that uh the other people can also get motivated or known some points maybe used to find that's why i thought you Tamil is the one in the English. Tamil is following.

50:39So on the Tembuon Day Rip is a good believing God is what is very very important. So you will definitely be able to do it very easily coming to the point. So Mr. UK Randall.

51:09If you have a body even just My husband also used to see body. So I used to pull like that. But I'm back. So in the sum of the tips I want to share and at all. Fasting is very very important.

52:10So please follow all chanting first time. Namaste Mamra. Namaste. See only two questions. Water in put yert taklama, a melanchamare. Water melan in the marathon of crucial yertama.

52:58Second question is can we eat watery food like watermelon and everything? Yeah, yeah, you can take watery food, no problem.

53:13But we should uh uh at the same time try to be as close to God as possible, you know, remembering about Him. That's the most important. Just do whatever you do, remembering God.

53:27Number and law on an energy and running panel. It's it's not a question. Evening after Suria uh astamana. Can we eat little water?

53:44Yeah, if you yeah if you need you can take some little water after Suryasta or whatever in the in the second part of the first time.

54:00And of course definitely you know uh there is questions about uh peptic ulcer or diabetic or blood pressure. You know, definitely you shouldn't do near jal. You can take water.

54:17In these conditions, definitely you should take water.

54:21If if there is no aggravation of disease usually water is enough to you know to make the digestive system working and it's even good for you know to drink a lot of water.

54:35So in this conditions definitely you should not do nirjal. Nirjal only if you have healthy body and you're strong enough. Uh, otherwise, steak fruits, take milk no problem. Or buttermilk, whatever. Umaskaram.

55:12Yesterday yesterday night eight thirty the the special class and uh advanced class, right? It was told that the Bible could not uh control his salary.

55:23So it was the requested by Narva to do perform at least at least in the month of May and June at Ekadashi Ekadashi vrata. Is it true? Is this story true? That's what he's asking.

55:42Whether Bhima was advised to do this at least this ekadeshi. Yeah, this story is there, and in Padma Purana definitely it's true.

Attitude toward prayer and unfulfilled requests

56:07Sorry, what is some cut and early morning chanting la pray panic sorry? What is awfully cut on the success terrified of the cake rather than the container and a preparing law being the grompus and the marine carriana in the pressure English English like English little. So I pray for them.

56:48Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't happen.

56:51When it doesn't happen, people come and ask me why did he pray sincerely and then And then it puts a lot of mental pressure on me whether to do not to do and how to take it and tartamatari.

57:13When we pray uh it means that we depend on God. Prayers don't have to be fulfilled. Uh prayers is a prayer. We are begging for mercy. And sometimes we get mercy, sometimes we don't get mercy.

57:30Prayer na pratnail bhantana ill, pratanana, bhantana So

57:43it's not a very uh proper attitude when people, you know, demand that all their prayers or your prayers should be fulfilled. It depends on God, it doesn't depend on you.

58:02So and if one of Sard the recovery number Sardak Namura window of Kray.

58:08And if these people are so irrational or demanding, I mean you shouldn't take their complaints seriously. You know Yeah, just just relax. Don't don't be in this pressure, you know. These people are irrational.

58:35What can you do? Don't allow this guilt trip to put on you. Okay. Okay. Um I got the so a lot of time already. Last week. Guruji, Guruji. Uh one more question, sorry for the disturbance.

Enduring difficulties and the struggle between good and evil

59:16Um She is asking uh it started the in the fight started a minute and then we got started during the journey of Millboards and even now it is happening.

59:56Always there is a fight between people who are righteous and wrong, and why righteous people are facing so much difficulties. Yeah, it's a big question, long question, but I'll try to give very short answer.

1:00:18In this world uh both my mute. In this world, there's forces of evil forces and good forces always fight.

1:00:37In fact, even within our own heart, uh there are some bad tendencies and good tendencies and the fight is going on there. It's not only outside of us there is this bad forces or good forces.

1:01:01And sometimes we feel that the evil forces they they they become stronger. This material world is designed in such a way that sometimes evil forces become stronger.

1:01:29There are certain demonic periods of time, sometimes they are short, sometimes they are very long for like now it's a very inauspicious period of time where demonic forces are stronger.

1:01:49But then it will change and then the good forces will become uh again strong and then they will defeat the bad forces. But this struggle is necessary for you know for us to purify our hearts.

1:02:12Sometimes it's necessary, it happens. Mahabharata Mahabharata it says

1:02:22And ultimately it all is needed to push us towards God because uh when we understand that only when we are together with God we can solve for our problems then it's then this is the right understanding.

1:02:46Because good people sometimes they have misunderstanding. If I am good, then nothing bad will happen with me. Sometimes good people they have this misconception that if I'm very good then nothing bad will happen with me.

1:03:05Should not happen with me. No, while you are here, even if you are good, sometimes something bad may happen with you. Pandavas were very good.

1:03:24You are not as good as Pandavas still they were sent for twelve years into exile. Pandavarandi uh And they have Pandavala Pandavara. And for some time Duryodhana was stronger than Pandavas.

1:03:50It's all meant for us to surrender to God that only God can protect us, not just the force of our piety or force of our goodness. Yeah, that's that's the main lesson which we should learn.

1:04:11Sometimes we have this misconception that if I am good, I am protected. No, only if you are protected by God you are protected. Okay. There are so many questions. It will never end time.

1:04:35Yeah I guess I guess I should come next time Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. I think it's the prapu. Follow so what is that something happened to them? No, no, they will still get benefit of her association. No problem.

1:05:24You know, just be patient and sometimes people change their mind when they see the results of your following, when they see that you be change your qualities. So be patient. Uh it it may happen. Pray for you. Okay.

Offering food to deities during Ekadasi

1:05:48Hare Krishna. I wanted to know tomorrow when we are doing only like uh taking water, what is the neighborhood we can give for God and maybe we may not be able to take it?

1:05:59Or is like somebody had asked about water fruits, so can we supper give that and take the water fruit? What about offering to the Lord? We have to do it and if so what to do. Um the Bhagavan up under the Pana enough.

1:06:17Um yeah no it's it's better not to eat prasadam on that day. It's just we're offering it to God, but we are not eating ourselves. If we want to follow ekādaśī strictly.

1:06:43You can you can give these offerings to those people who anyway don't follow ekādaśī.

1:06:54And of course God doesn't fast, so if you offer it to Krishna then there is no rule that you should not offer to him grains. You can offer to him grains.

1:07:10But if you offer it to Gaura-Nitai uh then uh Gaura-Nitai they follow ekādaśīs so don't offer to them anything which is uh prohibited on ekādaśī. Okay. Thank you very much.

1:07:31I wish you very happy Kadeshi and happy life in your spiritual practices. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hare Kṛṣṇa.