Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Seva Ashram, Petaling Jaya

🌸 Quotes from Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj (3) 🌸

Whatever spiritual wealth you have, that is your property. And whatever spiritual wealth I have, that is my property. If I want to increase my spiritual property then I will have to look to you and find what more you have than I. In this way the tendency to associate with and learn from others will grow within us through the quality of humility. This is the best process to get association.

https://govindamaharaj.com/en/quotes/

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 3: Conclusion ( 92)
VRNDAVANA—FOR SHALLOW THINKERS?

In this connection, he told us, "You all know that only the bogus, hollow people and men of shallow thinking like Vrndavana." I was very much perplexed to hear this. I had been told that Vrndavana is the highest place of spiritual perfection. I had heard that one who has not mastered his senses cannot enter Vrndavana. Only the liberated souls can enter Vrndavana and have the opportunity of discussing krsna-lila. Vrndavana is for the liberated souls. Those who are not liberated from the demands of their senses may live in Navadwipa, but the liberated souls may live in Vrndavana. Now Prabhupada was saying that the shallow thinkers appreciate Vrndavana, but a man of real bhajana, real divine aspiration, will aspire to live in Kuruksetra.

Hearing this, I felt as if I had fallen from the top of a tree. "What is this?" I thought. I am a very acute listener, so I was very keen to catch the meaning of his words. The next thought he gave us was that Bhaktivinoda Thakura, after visiting many different places of pilgrimage, remarked, "I would like to spend the last days of my life in Kuruksetra. I shall construct a cottage near Rama-hrada and pass the rest of my life there. Kuruksetra is the real place of bhajana."

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

19/10/22 . The grand 128th appearance day celebration of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Founder-President-Acharya, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Ashtottara-shata-sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj .

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-celancitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam-varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

"I fall at the feet of Srila Sridhar Dev, who with charming expression sings his songs of sweet nectar. Dressed in fine garments like the newly-risen sun, he is the true saint, the devotees have chosen. His detachment and knowledge are just like an ocean, the treasure-house of complete, perfect conclusions. Radiant in pastimes of loving devotion, the abode of pure ecstasy, bestower of good fortune; foremost true follower of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta, foremost great general of the whole renounced order, my lord and my master, my only shelter, I worship his feet, Srila Sridhar Dev."

- Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj

Jaya Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay!!! 🙏🙏🙏

Jaya Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev- Goswami Maharaj Ki Jay!!! 🙏🙏🙏

http://www.scsmath.com/docs/sridhar_maharaj.html

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (85)
🌸🌸🌸 SWEETNESS WITHIN PAIN 🌸🌸🌸

In this last verse of His Siksastakam, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given another very fine and high type of solace. And this has been confirmed by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, who has written:

bahye visa-jvala haya
bhitare anandamaya
krsna-premara adbhuta carita

"Don't be afraid. Outwardly you may feel a horrible pain of separation, but internally, you will feel an unparalleled type of rasa, the most pleasing feeling of peace, joy, or ecstasy." Externally, there may be pangs of separation, but internally there is the greatest satisfaction.

In this way we are advised by the scriptures, and our practical experience corroborates our faith in this subtle matter. The English poet, Shelley, has written:

"Our sincerest laughter
With some pain is fraught;
Our sweetest songs are those
That tell of saddest thought."

When we are reading an epic where there is cruel separation between the hero and the heroine, it is so sweet to us that although we shed tears, still we cannot leave the book. When we hear about the pangs of Sita-devi, how Ramacandra banishes Her and leaves Her uncared for in the forest although She is with child, this is very painful. We shed tears, but still we read on. There is sweetness within pain. It is possible.

Separation from Krishna is like that. The special characteristic of krsna-prema is this: externally, we feel extreme pain, like lava, but internally our heart is filled with some extraordinary ecstatic joy. This is what Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us. As much as we can catch the meaning of His instructions, we shall be prepared for that kind of life. This is the fare to go to Vrndavana, and when we are introduced to so many others like us, then our joy knows no bounds. When we meet others who have the same nature and mind as us, we get solace from them. We need not be afraid. In spite of all these things, we should think firmly that there is our home, and we should want to go back to home, back to Godhead.

We are not foreigners there. Here we are foreigners: every man treats me in any way that he likes. But Vrndavana is most hopeful and full of the highest prospect. It is the place of inner satisfaction. We aspire after that; we cannot but continue aspiring for our real home. What is real joy and ecstasy? We are not acquainted with that. This is our present trouble. Yet as much as we progress in Krishna consciousness, we shall become conscious of a practical feeling of real joy and ecstasy, beauty and charm, and in this way, we shall become more and more encouraged.

Yamunacarya says:

yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde
nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit
tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah susthu nisthivanam ca

"Before I came in touch with the Krishna-love of Vrndavana, worldly pleasure was of much importance to me; but now, if any mundane taste comes in my memory, my face becomes disfigured, and I spit at the thought."

So if we get a slight taste of that ecstasy, then at once we come to the conclusion that there can be no comparison between that and any peace or pleasure here in this mundane world. At the same time, once we are settled in that atmosphere, no pain can disturb or affect us in any way.

There is another side also: although we are advised to be prepared for painful separation, the fact is not so cruel in reality. Krishna says, mayi te tesu capy aham: "I am always with My devotees." Wherever there is an exclusive devotee, Krishna is there like his shadow, always invisibly moving after him. This is the Lord's nature:

aham bhakta-paradhino
hy asvatantra iva dvija
sadhubhir grasta-hrdayo
bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyah

The Lord tells Durvasa, "I am the slave of my devotees; I have no freedom apart from their will. Because they are completely pure and devoted to Me, My heart is controlled by them, and I reside always in their hearts. I am dependent not only on My devotees, but even on the servants of My devotees. Even the servants of My devotees are dear to Me."

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (78)
🌸🌸🌸 LOTUS FEET—MAGIC WAND 🌸🌸🌸

"My aspiration is taking me towards something else. Now I not only want a connection with You as a servitor from a distance, but coming in touch with the magic wand of Your lotus feet, my aspiration has changed. I see that so many devotees are engaged in Your service and chanting Your name, and seeing this, my hopes have been raised.

"I want to be lifted to that position. I can visualize that position from far away, but now my earnest prayer is that I may be raised to that level. Your connection has given me such thirst. I want to be handled by You. Play with me as You like in Your own way. My heart hankers after such a relationship with You. When I chant Your name with this feeling, I find that my previous conception has changed and my new hankering is for the standard of spontaneous love. I pray that You lift me into that plane of Your divine affection and love."

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (72)
🌸🌸🌸🌸 THE SU***DE SQUAD 🌸🌸🌸🌸

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, "The Holy Name is so beautiful, gracious, and charming. Let me die along with all the offenses against it so others may enjoy its nectar." He wants to sacrifice himself just as in wartime, with bombs under their armpits, the su***de squad would jump into a ship's chimney. The su***de squad began with Japan's campaign against the British, and when Hi**er heard of their fearlessness, he said, "We have something yet to learn from Japan." So, Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays, "I want to finish myself along with all the offenses against the name, that others may enjoy the nectar of the Holy Name."

Vasudeva Datta also prayed, "Give the sins of all souls to me, and throw me into eternal hell, so that they may benefit. Give them love of Krishna." By that highly generous sentiment, he does not die. It is said, "Die to live." When we have so much appreciation for the Lord that we feel this kind of sentiment, we find a living attainment of higher life. That is the enjoyment we want.

The last verse of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam will explain this feeling. Another example of this is found when the great sage Narada came to the gopis and asked them for the dust of their lotus feet for the treatment of Krishna's headache. Here we find self-abnegation to the highest degree, and that is the whole point of devotion. The very life of a devotee is based on sacrifice. As much as there is sacrifice, there is benefit. And sacrifice means "Die to live." This is a favorite saying of mine. These are Hegel's words: "Die to live." Krishna is the highest consumer known to the world. We should not hesitate to give ourselves to Him.

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE 🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (69)
🌸🌸 THE STANDARD OF HUMILITY 🌸🌸

Of course, anyone may deceive the ordinary public with superficial humility. But a show of humility is not real humility. It must come from the heart, and it must have a real purpose. Everything—humility, tolerance, and pridelessness—must be considered by the judgement of a standard, normal person, not by the ignorant who are like elephants, tigers, and jackals. Should they be allowed to judge what is humility, what is audacity and impertinence? Of course not. Should a devotee think, "The Deity and the temple is about to be mo**sted, but I shall stand by and do nothing. I should be humble and tolerant. A dog is entering the temple; I should show him respect?" No. This is not real humility.

We must have a normal conception of reality. We must not allow these anomalies to continue in the name of offering respects to others. We must not think that we may allow anyone to harm the devotees or mo**st the temple, that we shall allow the dog to enter the temple, and by doing this we are humble and tolerant, we are showing all respects to others. We are not interested only in the physical meaning of the scriptures, but the real meaning.

That I am humble means that I am the slave of the slave of a Vaisnava. With that consciousness we must proceed. If anyone comes to mo**st my master, I should first sacrifice myself, thinking, "Because I am of the least importance, my sacrifice is no loss; I must sacrifice myself to maintain the dignity of my guru, the devotees, and my Lord and His family."

We must always understand what is to be honored. We offer our respects to the highest truth, the Lord of Lords; our dealings should be in consonance with that. If we always keep the highest conception of relativity within us, we will see that we are the lowest. If there is danger to our guardians, we shall sacrifice ourselves. All of this should be taken into account when trying to understand the meaning of humility, not physical imitation—but genuine humility; it is a question of practical realization. Fame and honor must be given to the Lord and His devotees, not to anyone else.

In the higher stages of devotion, of course, humility may have to be adjusted in another way for the paramahamsa babajis, the topmost swanlike saints who have given up all connection with this material world. But in the preaching stage, the second class devotee must accept things differently. As our guru maharaja said, "Had I been in the role of a babaji, a nonassertive, reclusive saint, I would have walked away from the place without offering any opposition. But when we are preaching and have taken the responsibility of leading so many souls to the domain of the Lord, our adjustment must be made accordingly." Generally, we may be indifferent to those who are personally inimical to us, but when we preach on behalf of the Lord in an organized way, our duty changes: we cannot be indifferent to antagonists.

It is mentioned in the scriptures by Jiva Goswami that according to one's own particular status, these things should be taken into consideration and the necessary things should be done. He has given his decision that if the devotee has a position of power, if he is a king, and if someone repeatedly blasphemes a real Vaisnava, or saintly person, then the king should enforce corporal punishment by banishing the offender from his state or by cutting out his tongue (vaisnava nindaka jihva hata). That is not the duty for ordinary persons; if they act in such a way, there will be a riot. We should not be eager to inflict physical punishment upon anyone.

Hanuman is a Vaisnava, but he is seen to destroy so many lifes. The same is true of Arjuna and so many other devotees. Even Krishna and Ramacandra are also seen to kill so many demons in war. Simply a physical show of meekness does not constitute the real meaning of humility. When there is an insult to the guru or the Vaisnavas, a devotee will oppose the blasphemers according to his might.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in one of his songs, says that we should not only tolerate the evil-doings of others and a disturbing environment, but we should do good to those by whom we are being tortured. The example is given of a tree. One who is cutting the tree gets shade and comfort from the tree even while cutting it down. In conclusion, he says that humility, mercy, respect for others, and renunciation of name and fame, are the four qualifications for chanting the Holy Name of Krishna.

We are the meanest of the mean. We should always be conscious that we are beggars. We should think, "Although I am a beggar, I've come to beg for the highest thing; let no disturbance dissuade me from my attempt." At the same time, our attitude toward the environment should be respectful.

In this way, by becoming educated in the Krishna conception of divinity, everyone should be given respect according to his position. It is the guiding instruction in the worship of the Holy Name (nama-bhajana) that we must take the position of the slave of the slave of the slave of the Lord. If you want to chant the name of Krishna, then don't waste your energy with the trifling things of this world. Don't allow your attention to be disturbed by tiny acquisitions like prestige or gain which is relative to money or physical comfort. Remember, you are trying for the greatest thing, and all other things are very small in comparison to Krishna consciousness. So, don't waste your energy and valuable time. Be economical. You have the chance to achieve the highest goal of life.

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (70)
🌸🌸🌸🌸 Unalloyed Devotion 🌸🌸🌸🌸

ROMAN TRANSLITERATION

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isa k**aye
mama janmani-janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

TRANSLATION

"O Lord, I have no desires
to accumulate wealth, followers,
beautiful women, or salvation.
My only prayer is for
Your causeless devotional service,
birth after birth."

ILLUMINATION

We should try to move in this direction. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, "I don't want any money (na dhanam), I don't want any popularity or manpower (na janam), I don't want the company of beautiful ladies (na sundarim). I don't want a good name, or the fame of a poet (kavitam va)." This is the general meaning of this verse, but it has been deeply dealt with in the commentaries of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Our guru maharaja has commented that in this verse, wealth, followers, women, and scholarship represent duty, wealth, sense pleasure, and salvation (dharma, artha, k**a, moksa). Bhaktivinoda Thakura has explained that in this context, "wealth" means the wealth which comes from following one's prescribed duties. It can also mean artha, economic development. He says that "followers" means physical relationship for comforts: wife, children, and so forth. The word sundarim means k**a, the company of beautiful ladies. And kavitam, poetry, represents moksa, liberation. Liberation apparently has a high value but really, like poetry, it is only flowery words. Liberation is imaginary because the ultimate result of liberation is that one's existence vanishes.

SERVICE CAPITALISTS

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, "O lord of the universe, I only pray for spontaneous devotion to You without motive for any reward. I want a natural serving attitude." Prema means affection, love. Prema means, "I shall serve You, and in remuneration You must give me more of a tendency to serve You—more energy and more hankering to serve You. My affection for You will be enhanced and the interest will become capital just as in the money-lending business." In this way, a devotee prays to Krishna, "I am serving You, and if you want to pay me something, then give me more capital to increase my serving tendency so it may be more enhanced.

"Wherever I am born according to my karma, I aspire only for Your service, my Lord, and I pray for unmotivated service, not for anything else in return." The general temptation that surrounds us on four sides is of four classes: money, followers, women, and liberation, and that means dharma, artha, k**a, and moksa. In this way, the gradations of different goals of life have been scientifically represented.

But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, "I have no attraction for any of these things, but only for You, my Lord. I don't even aspire after liberation. I will not even ask, "Give me liberation, for, being liberated, I will be able to serve You better." That sort of condition must not be placed on divinity. This is the purest of prayers. "According to my karma, I may be bird or beast, here or there, or even in hell—it does not matter. My whole aspiration is concentrated on one thing alone: I pray that my attraction for You may never be lost. I pray that it may always be enhanced."

Bhakti, devotion, is ahaituki, causeless. It is quite natural and has no other aspiration. Someone may say, "If interest is always being reinvested as capital, I will never enjoy the profit," but we are interested in enjoyment by self-giving. "Let others enjoy at my cost"—that is the basis of the highest enjoyment. The devotee thinks, "Let Krishna enjoy with others—I will be the scapegoat."

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that when a baby has no knowledge, and an enemy or a disease comes to attack him, he cannot defend himself. In the same way, in the beginning, when one's realization of the Holy Name is in the childlike stage, then crimes and offenses against the name can prevail. When one's realization is grown up, no offense can approach him, but so many offenses may come and attack the beginner.

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸🌸🌸 Our Lord's Beloved Power 🌸🌸🌸

"The Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification."

"Within the group of Radharani's servitors, we aspire to be rupanugas, followers of Sri Rupa. And the followers of Sri Rupa will have great earnestness to look after the order of Sri Rupa, as he does towards Lalita. In this way, through Rupa Goswami, our devotional service is going to the highest plane. And our highest gain is only there. Not even our connection with Radharani or Lalitadevi is the highest goal of life, but our highest aspiration is to serve in the Rupanuga Sampradaya; that means that our highest attainment is in Sri Rupa's connection.

Radha-dasyam has been said to be the highest attainment. Why? The quality and quantity of rasa that Radharani can draw from Krsna can never be found anywhere else. So if you are situated just behind Radharani, you'll be allowed to taste not only the quantity, but the highest quality of rasa.

No other person can draw such high rasa from Krsna. The fullest, highest type of quality is drawn from Krsna: He gives Himself fully and wholly and deeply. So if you are in Sri Rupa's group, then you can have a taste of that sort of rasa."

~Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, Chapter Nine

On this Radhastami Day, Srila Guru Maharaj has given us the opportunity to sing the song by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

radhika charana padma sakala sreyera sadma
yatane ne nahi aradhila

"I did not take care to worship the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, which are the abode of all auspiciousness." The Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification. In another song Bhaktivinod Thakur says:

radha-bhajane yadi mati nahi bhela
krsna bhajana tava akararane gela

If you have no intention to serve Srimati Radharani, if your intention is only service to Sri Krishna, then you are surely spoiled.

atapa rahita suraya nahi jani
radha-virahita madhava nahi mani

Just as without heat we cannot know the sun, so without Srimati Radharani there is no Krishna; the Powerful is Powerless. Kevala Madhava pujaye so ajnani - who worships Krishna without Radharani, their conception must be imperfect. Who knows the glories of the Power must first worship the Power and then the Powerful. Uma, Rama, Satya, Sachi, Chandra, Rukmini, Radha Avatara sabe amnaya vani - all the auspicious, powerful, divine women, such as Uma, Ramadevi, Laksmi, Satyabhama, Sati, Chandravali, etc., all are the expansions of Srimati Radharani.

hena radha-paricharyya yakara dhana
bhakativinoda tara magaye charana

Thus Bhaktivinod Thakur says in conclusion that who worships the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, he worships their lotus feet.

Srimati Radha Thakurani, ki jaya. May all glory be unto Her, the Power of powers and the Queen of Sri Krishna's heart.

By His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

http://www.scsmath.com/docs/articles/Radhastami-AffGdnc-Dmynti0510/Page%205%20Radhastami.htm

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (68)
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 A GREAT INSULT 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

When our spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, went to Vrndavana in the early 1930's, he rode a motorcar. In those days, this was unheard of for a saint. One day, a priest insulted our guru by deprecating the position of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, the preceptor of our highest conception of spiritual achievement. He boasted, "We are not only residents of the holy land, but members of the cast of high priests (brahmanas). Therefore we can offer our benedictions to Dasa Goswami. He was born in a low-class family, and he himself asked such a benediction from us."

Of course, in great humility, Dasa Goswami once prayed,

gurau gosthe gosthalayisu sujane bhusuragane
svamantre sri-namni vraja-nava-yuva-dvandva-sarane
sada dambham hitva kuru ratim apurvam atitaram
aye svantarbhratas catubhir abhiyace dhrta-padah

"O mind—my brother! I fall at your feet and implore you: 'Give up all pride and always taste ecstatic love while remembering the divine guide, the holy abode of Vrndavana, the cowherds and milkmaids of Vraja, the loving devotees of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, the gods on earth or pure brahmanas, the Gayatri mantra, the Holy Names of Sri Krishna and the divine youthful couple of Vraja, Sri Sri Radha-Govindasundara."

That priest remarked, "We are residents of the holy abode of Vrndavana, and brahmanas as well, so we are in a position to give benedictions to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami." Upon hearing these words, our guru maharaja, who was at Radha-kunda at the time, began fasting. He remarked, "I have to hear this? This fellow is under the control of lust, anger, and greed, and he says that he can show his grace to Dasa Goswami, the most respected preceptor in our line! And I am to hear that?" Without retaliating against his remarks, he decided to fast.

We also stopped eating, and our whole camp began fasting. Then a local gentleman who came to know that the whole camp was fasting managed to find the blasphemous priest and bring him to our guru maharaja. That priest begged to be pardoned. Our guru maharaja was satisfied and, after showing him some respect, finally broke his fast. At that time someone told our guru maharaja, "They are all ignorant fools. Why should you be so much affected by his words? You should ignore it." Our guru maharaja said, "If I were an ordinary babaji and heard such a remark, I could simply cover my ears and go away. But I am playing the part of an acarya, one who teaches by example. What justification do I have for riding in a motorcar if I do not oppose the remarks against my gurudeva?"

Repeatedly he used this expression: "Why am I driving a motorcar here in Vrndavana?" he said, "Had I been a niskincana babaji, a saint living in seclusion and wearing only a loincloth, I would have given no opposition to this man. To save myself, I would simply leave the place and go elsewhere. But because I am riding in a big motorcar in the post of an acharya, a teacher, I must defend the dignity of the great devotees. I have accepted this charge and can't evade these circumstances. I must face it and do everything in my power that such things may not go on undetected or unopposed."

Humility must be adjusted or modified in its practical application. Once, when a Hare Krishna temple was attacked, a gun was used by the devotees to defend the temple. Later there was a complaint among the local people. They said, "Oh, they are humble? They are tolerant? Why have they crossed the advice of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree? They can't be devotees!" So many complaints were coming to me, but I defended them by saying, "No, they have done rightly. The instruction to be humbler than a blade of grass means one should be humble to the devotee, not to a madman."

The general class of men are ignorant. They are mad. They do not know what is good or bad, so their consideration has no value. Who is qualified to judge whether a devotee is offering respect to all and not expecting any for himself? Who will judge whether he is really humble and tolerant—madmen? Ignorant people? Have they any sense to judge who is humble, who is tolerant, and who is respectful to others? There must be a standard by which to judge humility. We are interested in the criterion given by higher thinkers, not the consideration of the ignorant masses.

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php

🌸 THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE🌸
Part 2: The Precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (67)
🌸🌸 THE SLAVE AREA OF KRISHNA 🌸🌸

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, "You must not desire respect from anyone or even from the environment itself; at the same time, you must give prestige to everyone and everything in the environment according to its position. Show respect, but don't desire any respect from outside." We must be very particular about this, for pride is our hidden enemy, our worst enemy. If we can somehow avoid or conquer this enemy, we will be able to enter into the slave area of Krishna and join those who have given their lives wholesale in sacrifice to Him. The general meaning of this verse is, "Never seek position or prestige from any quarter. At the same time, give honor to one and all according to your understanding."

This book has been compiled from the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

https://www.scsmathinternational.com/library/SrilaSridharMaharaj/GoldenVolcanoOfDivineLove/index.php