Question: I have been staying in association for some years now and chanting and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly. But I still find it hard to control myself in provocative situations. I fear some day, maintaining regulative principles may be at stake. How can I sharpen my intelligence so that I can control my mind and steadily practice bhakti?

Jayapataka Swami: We have to go through the different stages of bhakti. We go through the stage of shradha, satsanga, bhajana kriya, and then we take initiation, and then we come to anarta nivritti, to remove the difficulties, then we become nista and from nista we get a taste. Sometimes we have a taste but now we get a steady taste. And then we get attached to Krsna consciousness. And then we get ecstatic love of Krsna. Then it is very easy to perform Krsna consciousness. And then we get pure love of Krsna! So by following this practice, naturally you will go up stage by stage and then you gain more and more control over the mind and senses. Hare Krsna! So it is important to continue chanting 16 rounds a day, minimum, read Srila Prabhupada’s books and engage in devotional service. Hare Krsna!
10-MARCH-2020 SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, INDIA