Question: How does it serve and please Caitanya Mahaprabhu for us to hear about and share this intimate pastimes of His ecstacies. 2. In what mood should we try to hear these pastimes so that they have a deep effect on our heart?

Jayapataka Swami: To hear about the pastimes of the Lord, it says this is the most direct and transcendental way to serve the Lord. When Lord Caitanya was talking with Ramananda Rai, He said that all other services are external when Ramananda Rai said, hearing from the pure devotees, Lord Caitanya said, EI HA HOI! EI HA HOI! THIS IS IT! THIS IS IT! So you should not have any doubt while listening to Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. This is it! THIS IS IT! This is the way! And unfortunately, if the heart is so hard that hearing these pastimes without developing love of Krsna, that we can cry but without crying for Krsna. Ha! Ha! If you are not able to cry, that you are not crying for Krsna, then Srila Prabhupada said that cry that you are not able to cry for Krsna! If you are not able to do that, then cry that you are not crying that you are not crying, that you are not crying for Krsna! Somehow or another we should be crying! Actually, Lord Caitanya, He was showing us that how by serving the Lord in separation, you actually please the Lord. And so in Kali yuga, we don’t have any direct access to Krsna. Of course, if He wants He can reveal Himself. But usually we are not so fortunate. But by feeling separation, by hearing the pastimes of the Lord, and wanting to be with Him to experience those blissful moments of His pastimes, that is the real essence of Krsna consciousness. If we want to serve Krsna, if we want to hear about Krsna, that is actual spiritual world. But usually we are just thinking, Krsna, I need a new car, I need a husband, I need this, I need that. We are not thinking about Krsna. But if we are thinking about Krsna, if we want Krsna, then that is the perfection of life. Of course, it may take some time to awaken in our hearts. So in the meantime, we try to do our devotional service but maybe by hearing about Lord Caitanya’s mercy, about His ecstasy, maybe something will stir in our heart and we will be able to taste a drop of that pure love that He has oceans of! OCEANS! Ganges! How much water is in the Ganges! How many drops! Lord Caitanya has more love than that!! Do you accept? Ha! Ha!
11-FEBRUARY-2020 SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, INDIA