The Dhama: Advice from
Jayapataka Swami

Jayapataka Swami wrote the following advice to a disciple who asked, "You have a lot of experience serving the Lord in India. Since I will have an opportunity to visit Mayapur and Vrindavana during this Gaura Purnima with a group of devotees from Riga, could you please give us some essential instructions: what to seek in the Holy Dhama and what to avoid? Thus we will be able to set up our minds properly."

TO SEEK:

SERVICE: since you get 1000 times the benefit for seva done in the Dham.

ASSOCIATION: To get the association with advanced devotees who reveal the glories of the Holy Dhama and devotional service is most important.

GOOD SADHANA: To practice spiritual activities very carefully--chanting, mangal arotik, evening arotik, etc. since this also gives 1000 times the benefit.

KNOWLEDGE: To take advantage of various opportunities to learn more about Krishna consciousness through classes, seminars, parikrama, etc.

MERCY: To obtain mercy through ecstatic kirtans, parikrama, association, devotional service, Ganges bathing, and reflection on Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.

BLISS: To experience transcendental bliss through the above.

TO AVOID:

OFFENSES: not to offend Dhama residents, the Dhama, the Holy Name, the vaisnavas, the Deities, etc.

TAMAS: Excessive sleep, anger, bitterness, and things in relation to tama guna like prajalpa, rumors, unconstructive criticism, envy, laziness, anything that can cause ill health, diving into shallow water head first, failing to clean oneself properly.

RAJAS: Inappropriate passion, overeating, desire for fame, prestige and distinction, improper mixing with the opposite gender, and profit mentality.

SINFUL ACTIVITIES: Keep Kali far away and avoid anything that would break the regulative principles.

SPACING OUT: There are many things to do to keep active in Krishna consciousness, but if one doesn't know what to do, then better to discuss it with someone with experience and get some ideas rather than space out.

DANGERS: There are dangerous things to avoid like eating unclean bhoga, not taking care of health and getting sick, going alone at night outside the campus of the Temple where sometimes thieves wait for foreign devotees, to swim in the Ganges in deep water when you don't know how to swim well, to associate with envious or inimical people, to have one's shoes stolen, to have one's pockets picked, to leave one's money belt in the bathroom/toilet, to leave one's valuables here and there unattended, to be in the sun too long without covering or sunscreen, to fail to book one's reservations for travel in time.