Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math - Ocean of Nectar

Land of Love and Dedication🙏🌷

By the exercise of energy (karma), we can attain a good destination; without faith in the achievements of karma, we may try for salvation by raising our consciousness (jnana). But if we inquire into the solution of life with the help of the experts of that higher spiritual realm like Nanda and his party, we can enter into the land of love and dedication.

My faith, my common sense about religion, tells me that if I see that Supreme Absolute Truth who is so rare and find Him real, concrete, and intimate, appealing directly to my heart, then why should I engage myself in wild-goose chasing? I shall appeal directly to the object of my search.

If someone tells me that a hawk has snatched my ear, should I chase the hawk without first touching my ear to see if it is still there? If I can have the Absolute Truth so intimately, why should I allow myself to run hither and thither? If I find that the Absolute Truth has kindly come with all His charm, and that His charm is not a secret and many personages are being attracted by Him, then should I run after the phantasmagoria of the the meditationists, the abstractionists and renunciationists? Never.

It is common sense. The straight understanding is given by authorities that Krishna, the son of Nanda, is Supreme. So when we have come up to that standard, then we can ask, "O son of Nanda, Krishna, king of the country of love: I appeal for Your affection. I am Your servant. I feel within myself that I have some connection with You. I am subordinate to You, but somehow, I am in adverse circumstances. I feel that there are so many enemies within me that are trying to take me away from You that I can't give my attention to You all the time.

At the same time, I feel from the inner plane of my heart that You are my master, You are all in all to me. My heart won't be satisfied without Your companionship. So I appeal to You: I am under unfavorable circumstances; I am suffering, and without Your grace, I don't find any means of relief from my present imprisoned position."

Excerpt from the book
The Golden Volcano of Divine Love
Srila Sridhar Maharaj

Entering Transcendental Time and Space🙏🌷

Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains how engaging in Hari-katha liberates one from the bo***ge of time and karma.🙏

Time is infinite, and in this mundane world we see that time does not wait for any one. It is always passing. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we find,

āyur harati vai puṁsām udyann astaṁ cha yann asau
tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta uttama-śloka-vārtayā
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.3.17)

“The rising and setting of the Sun decreases duration of everyone’s life, except those who utilise their time by dedicating themselves to the message of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Every day the sun rises and the sun sets. It is not a happy thing. We want to enjoy with the Sun and enjoy with the moon, but we cannot. They are simply a passing show. Each day they pass by us, and a day from our lifetime is subtracted. The meaning of the Sun rising and the Sun setting is that another day has been stolen from our lifetime. We cannot control Time, and day by day our lifetime passes, day after day is withdrawn from our lifetime’s account. If our son turns six years old, that means that six years have been subtracted from his lifetime.

Time is always passing in this way and does not wait for us. So, we can understand that this world is a passing show. Everything that happens is taken by Time and will never come back. This means we cannot wait, and it is best if instead we try to do something with our time. Whenever we get an opportunity must try to do something.

Time is known as samaya, but Time is also known as Kāl, the Lord of Time. And other names of Kāl are Yama, Yamarāj, the Lord of Death, and Dharmarāj, the Lord of Justice. All time is recorded in the office of Yamarāj. What I am doing at every second is recorded there.

Now we can record things with computers, but Chitra-Gupta’s kāthā, the account book of Yamarāj, automatically records everything—what millions and billions of jīva-souls are doing at every moment.

Yamarāj’s account book records everything we do and everything we do not do. According to that record we receive the results of our activities.Depending on our activities, the results sometimes come to us very quickly and sometimes later, but in no way can we avoid our karma.

Yet here Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is said,

tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta uttama-śloka-vārtayā
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.3.17)

This means that all time is counted in Chitra Gupta’s account-book except the time which we spend in the service to Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅga Gāndharvā-Govindasundar, in the service of the Lord and His beloved devotees. That time is not stolen by Kāl, the Lord of Time. We do not lose that time. Rather we get transcendental benefit by using it in the Lord’s service.

That time is not taken into account by Yamarāj. It is registered in the account of Vaikuṇṭhaloka, the spiritual world. And once that time is recorded there the results of that time come to us in a transcendental way and take us from the jurisdiction of Yamarāj to Vaikuṇṭhaloka. At that time the whole account Yamarāj has for us becomes insignificant.

So transcendental service is the perfect use of our time. When we listen to Hari-kathā (the glorification of the Supreme Lord) immediately our whole account here is closed and everything goes into the account of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

In another place in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is it written:

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta na nirvidyeta yāvat
āmat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā śraddhā yāvan na jāyate
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: 11.20.9)

Until the time when we fully dedicate ourselves to the service and glorification of Lord Hari we will do karma in this mundane world. Tāvat, ‘until that time’, means until that time when we engage ourselves attentively to hear Kṛṣṇa-kathā. Only then will all the karma we do in this mundane world be demolished. Then our account will merge with the Lord‘s account. Transferring ourselves into the Lord’s jurisdiction is known as bhakti-yoga.

Devotees have no personal account with Yamarāj, yet they do keep an account for themselves, “I am doing this, I am doing that,” like a progress report. “How much of the time within the last twelve hours have I spent for the service of Kṛṣṇa? And what kind of service have I done?” The devotees keep this type of account for themselves. But actually their account merges into the account of Kṛṣṇa and no reaction comes to them for their service.

tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta uttama-śloka-vārtayā
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.3.17)

It is necessary to spend our time for the service of Guru-Vaiṣṇava in this way. That is the advice of all the Scriptures, saints, Vaiṣṇavas, Gurus, and finally Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. Time cannot take away what we use in the service of Kṛṣṇa’s dearmost eternal servitor—Śrī Gurudev. No one can take that time away from us, not the Sun, or the moon, or anyone, and that time can give us the super-benefit of our life. So, our time is that type of chance in front of us.

āyur harati vai puṁsām udyann astaṁ cha yann asau
tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta uttama-śloka-vārtayā
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.3.17)

Thus, time is passing, shortening the life of everyone, but one who dedicates themselves to the service of Kṛṣṇa under the guidance of Guru-Vaiṣṇava (Uttama-śloka-vārtayā) transcends the bo***ge of time and realises the perfection of life.

Sri Gaudiya Darshan

Question and Answers with
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj🙏🌷

Student: How can we develop our faith in Krishna consciousness?

Sridhar Maharaj: How have you come to conceive of Krishna consciousness?

Student: By reading Bhagavad-gita.

Sridhar Maharaj: Bhagavad-gita. From the scriptures. And the scriptures are written by whom? Some saint. So, the association of saints and the advice of scriptures are both necessary. The saint is the living scripture, and the scripture advises us in a passive way. A saint can actively approach us, and passively we may receive benefit from the scriptures. The association of the scriptures and the saints can help us achieve the ultimate realisation: sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi Krsnonmukha haya.

The saints are more powerful. Those who are living the life of the scriptural advice are scripture personified. In their association, and by their grace, we can imbibe such higher, subtle knowledge and faith.

All our experiences are futile in the attempt to attain the ultimate destination; only faith can lead us there. The spiritual world is far, far beyond the jurisdiction of our limited visual, aural, and mental experience. The experience of the eye, ear, and mind is very meagre and limited, but faith can rise up and pierce through this area and enter the transcendental realm.

Faith should be developed with the help of scriptures and saints. They will help us understand that the spiritual world is real and this world is unreal. At that time, this material world will be night to us, and that will be day. Presently, the eternal world is darkness to us, and we are awake in this mortal world. What is night to one is day to another.

A saint is awake in some matter, and a dacoit (thief) is working in another plane. They are living in two separate worlds. A scientist is living in one world; a rowdy is living in another. One’s day is night to another. The ordinary persons cannot see what Einstein and Newton have seen, and what the ordinary man sees is ignored by a great man. So, we have to awaken our interest in that plane and ignore the interests of this plane.

Search for Sri Krishna 🙏

From Emotion to Devotion🙏🌷

Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj describes the obstacles to attaining firm attachment in devotional practice.🙏

Devotee: I have heard you say that we need a promotion from emotion to devotion. Can you explain the difference between emotion and devotion?

Srila Govinda Maharaj: Good question. If, when we get the tendency to search for Krishna consciousness though our good fortune, we get a proper teacher, then we will feel much enthusiasm. Through our enthusiasm we jump into the river of Krishna consciousness, but when we do so, we do not consider our capacity. Sometimes we do many things emotionally. It is our good fortune, no doubt, that emotionally, or devotionally, or in any way, we are connecting with Reality.

That is always good. But when we need to be promoted [to advance in our practice], then we must be serious about our practising life. We must become serious about what at first we were doing emotionally through our good fortune upon finding a good teacher. We must practise properly; we must try to practise properly. If we do so, then gradually we will be promoted. A promotion that comes in this way is an actual devotional promotion. If what we do emotionally is good, then that is all right. But if it is not, then reactions will come to us.

Sometimes we see that qualified persons also get into a hopeless position. Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur has mentioned six stages that come in our practising life: utsaha-mayi, ghana-tarala, vyudha-vikalpa, vishaya-sangara, and taranga-rangini. In the first stage, utsaha-mayi, we very enthusiastically jump into the river of Krishna consciousness and do so many things. As we proceed, we do not consider our capacity: sometimes we do wrong, and sometimes we do right. We do many things and feel great enthusiasm, but we try to do things without knowing the principles of practising life perfectly.

This stage comes to us through our good fortune, no doubt. We call anyone who tries to practise Krishna consciousness a bhagyavan-jiva, a fortunate soul. Many things go on in this mundane world, and we can take part in them, but we do not. Through our good fortune we are joining the line of Krishna consciousness.

Maybe after a few years, however, a situation comes in which we do not feel so much enthusiasm any more. That stage is called ghana-tarala. Ghana-tarala means ‘sometimes deep, sometimes shallow’. Sometimes we feel deep attachment, and sometimes our attachment is weak. Then we think, “Are we right or wrong? What are we doing? Is it good or bad? Why are we not developing in our practising life?” This type of light thinking comes to us. Then vishaya-sangara and the other stages. We sometimes feel attachment to the mundane, and sometimes to the transcendental. In this condition we pass through various stages during our life.

If we get a proper teacher’s association, then we will not be frustrated in any way. Maybe we will not get a result easily, but we will not be frustrated. We will not become hopeless. When we cross over the emotional stages, we will get devotion. Devotion’s nature is that it gives us steadiness on the path of spiritual life. In no way will our faith be disturbed if we get proper association: the association of a good teacher, a good Vaishnava. That is called sadhu-sanga, and with that whatever we do will be considered devotion.

Note:

Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur has outlined six phases that a practitioner goes through during the stage of bhajana-kriya:

• Utsaha-mayi: false confidence.

• Ghana-tarala: sporadic endeavour.

• Vyudha-vikalpa: indecision.

• Vishaya-sangara: struggle with the senses.

• Niyamakshama: inability to adhere to principles.

• Taranga-rangini: enjoying the byproducts of devotion (personal gain, worship, fame, and so on).

Srila Govinda Maharaj explains here and elsewhere, as it is given by Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, that the indispensable need of a practitioner to persevere through these challenges is sadhu-sanga: the association of a congenial and affectionate devotee who is more advanced than oneself.

Sri Gaudiya Darshan

Question and Answers with
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj🙏🌷

Question: Can you explain further of what you mentioned recently, that in the devotee’s quest to become pure, he must go through numerous situations where he is accepting something higher and rejecting something lower: eliminating the lower conception and accepting the higher conception?

Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: Those are different stages of that misunderstanding, different strata. Sādhana means progress, which means eliminating something and inviting something higher. In this way, the process is there, and that may be quick in a certain case and slow in another. It may be slow or rapid, but we are to pass through different stages according to the intensity of illusion.

Question: What is the determining factor as to whether we pass through such a stage slowly or quickly?

Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: That will depend upon the sukṛti and the sat-saṅga. There will be some conscious help and some previous underground help. Ajñāta-sukṛti is when unconsciously, unknown benefit has come to me. Whereas, jñāta-sukṛti is when consciously some benefit comes through the association of the sādhu, the saint. And that sādhu also may be of different types.

Question: I don’t understand. The sādhu may be of different types?

Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: There are different types of sādhus. We have freedom of cooperation and association with a particular section, and the outcome of that depends also on the quality of whom we associate with.

Question: So, spiritual life is one where we are accepting a new concept and eliminating old concepts?

Question: Does the acceptance and elimination of concepts include the sādhu-saṅga that we accept and eliminate there also?

Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj: Yes. In sādhu-saṅga, there are so many considerations: the type of sādhu, the cooperating tendency, also the backing of previous sukṛti. There are many things to be taken into calculation.

adhiṣṭānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇañ cha pṛthag-vidham
vividhāś cha pṛthak cheṣṭā daivañ chaivātra pañchamam

(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 18.14)

With the help of these five factors, all actions are effected: “The body, ego (in the form of the knot of spirit and matter), the separate senses, the different endeavours, and destiny, or the intervention of the Supreme Universal Controller.”

It is not that just one incident is the cause, but there are so many circumstantial things coming together that cause a particular event. Any event is the combination of many things—his free will, his previous background, his present association, his nature—all these things have got their contribution for his progress. Circumstance can contribute much. It is not limited only to the free will of the man who wants progress.

Excerpt from The Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion 🙏🌷

Question and Answers with
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj🙏🌷

Devotee: What is the process for one to test whether or not a sādhu or a Guru is genuine? Isn’t it that one should first of all try to be sincere himself, then he will get a sincere Guru and sādhu-saṅga?

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj: But from where will that sincerity come?

bhaktis tu bhagavad-bhakta-saṅgena parijāyate
sat-saṅgaḥ prāpyate pumbhiḥ sukṛtaiḥ pūrva-sañchitaiḥ

(Bṛhan-Nāradīya-purāṇa)

Actually, we can recognise a sādhu by sukṛti. Apparently, we can know him from the śāstra, the scriptures, because the śāstra helps us to know who is a sādhu, and the sādhu gives us the interpretation of the śāstra. So, sādhu and śāstra are interdependent, but the sādhu holds the more important position and the śāstra has the secondary position.

The living śāstra is the sādhu, but to know who is Guru, who is sādhu, we are to consult the descriptions given about them in the scriptures. The symptoms of the sādhu, both of the Guru as well as the disciple, have been written in the Bhāgavatam, in the Gītā and in the Upaniṣads. In the Bhāgavatam, we find:

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreyah uttamam śābde pare cha niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam

(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.3.21)

“A person in search of the ultimate good should surrender to the Guru who knows well the Vedic scriptures (śabda-brahma) and the Supreme Absolute Lord (Parabrahma), and for whom the mundane world holds no charm whatsoever.” And the Gītā says:

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 4.34)

“You will be able to attain all this transcendental knowledge by satisfying the enlightened spiritual master with prostrate obeisances, relevant enquiry, and sincere service. Great souls who are most expert in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will teach you that divine knowledge.”

So, in the Upaniṣads, in Bhāgavatam, and in Bhagavad-gītā, it is clearly mentioned what should be the symptom of a Guru and also what should be that of a disciple. If such a qualified disciple comes to a qualified Guru, then the real transaction begins. Otherwise, there may be so many bogus transactions; such black-marketing is going on in this world in the name of religion. But from the association of the real devotee comes devotion— bhaktis tu Bhagavad-bhakta-saṅgena parijāyate. And, sat-saṅgaḥ prāpyate pumbhiḥ sukṛtaiḥ pūrva-sañchitaiḥ: one can come to a proper guide, a sādhu, as a result of his previous activity. Sukṛti is of two kinds: jñāta and ajñāta.

Ajñāta-sukṛti is in the beginning when, unknown to him, he is utilised in the service of the Lord through the sādhu. Suppose a man has built a dharmaśālā. So many persons of different types come to stay there, but because they take advantage of the energy of the builder, the results of their actions will go to him. A dacoit may come and stay. A pilgrim may also come, and a sādhu also. If a dacoit will stay, then because he utilises the energy of the owner of the dharma-śālā, the owner will have to take some bad reaction (pāpa) and will suffer for that.

But if an honest man will stay there, then the owner will get some puṇya, pious credit. In this way, pāpa and puṇya will come to him, but after duly suffering or enjoying those fruits, they will be finished.

However, if a real sādhu, a devotee, will stay there and utilise the owner’s energy, then that owner will acquire something permanent.

nehābhikrama-nāśo ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate
svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 2.40)

“Wandering throughout the material universe, the very fortunate living entity who receives the grace of Guru and Kṛṣṇa receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”

Sukṛti is described by the word bhāgyavān, good fortune. There are so many different types of sādhus. Among the tyāgīs, there are so many different classes: the naked nāga bābās and others. And among the theistic group also there are so many different sections like the Rāmānujas, the Rāmānandīs, the Nimbārkas, the Vallabhīs, and the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas.

The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas are the followers of Mahāprabhu. So, even in the theistic section there is a graded classification, but it is through our sukṛti that we shall be guided from the subconscious area to have connection with a sādhu of a particular section.

Excerpt from The Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion 🙏🌷

Question and Answers with
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj🙏🌷

Devotee: What is the most direct and effective means to attain a taste of Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj:

satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani
śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati

(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.25.25)

“One will rapidly progress on the path of liberation and naturally will develop firm faith, attraction, and devotion when he cultivates the activity of engaging in discussions about My glorious Pastimes in the association of pure devotees. Such activities are very nourishing to the ear and heart.” And,

kṛṣṇa-bhakti-janma-mūla haya ‘sādhu-saṅga’
kṛṣṇa-prema janme, te̐ho punaḥ mukhya aṅga

(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 22.83)

“By associating with the sādhus and gaining their mercy, one can get Kṛṣṇa-bhakti right up to the stage of Kṛṣṇa-prema. Furthermore, the practitioner’s very life depends on the association of the sādhus. Without sādhu-saṅga, it is not possible to receive the real seeds of bhakti.”

kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ
krīyatāṁ yadi kuto ’pi labhyate
tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ
janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate

(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 8.70)

“Pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa cannot be obtained by performing pious activities even for millions of births. It can be purchased only by paying one price: intense eagerness. Wherever it is available, one must purchase it immediately.” And,

sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya
sei jīva nistāre, māyā tāhāre chhāḍaya

(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 20.120)

“If, by the blessings of a pure devotee and the scripture, a jīva-soul becomes devoted to Kṛṣṇa, he naturally becomes liberated, and Māyā withdraws.”

Do you have your answer?

Devotee: Yes. The most effective means of attaining Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to associate with the exalted devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa: sādhu-saṅga.

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj: What does it mean to keep company and to have association with the sādhus? What have you understood to be saṅga?

Devotee: Paripraśnena sevayā (by relevant enquiry from a real Guru and by serving him).

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj: Yes, but that is not up to the mark. Sādhu-saṅga means it must be of this nature:

dadāti pratigṛhṇāti guhyam ākhyāti pṛchchhati bhuṅkte bhojayate chaiva ṣaḍ-vidhaṁ prīti lakṣaṇam

(Śrī Upadeśāmṛta: 4)

This is saṅga, and in this way we can get the benefit of the association of a sādhu. Firstly, to give something to the sādhu for his pleasure, and to take something from him as his prasādam: dadāti pratigṛhṇāti. Then, guhyam ākhyāti pṛchchhati: whatever is concealed within our own heart, we are to divulge the whole of that to him, and we are to receive his instruction. Bhuṅkte bhojayate chaiva: we are to give the raw materials to him for his taking of prasādam, and then we are to receive his remnants. Sādhu-saṅga means this.

Excerpt from the Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion 🙏🌷

The 151st divine appearance festival (150th appearance anniversary) of the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and worldwide Sri Gaudiya Maths, Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad. 🙏🌷

Pranam Mantra🙏

śrī-siddhānta-sarasvatīti vidito gauḍīya-gurv-anvaye
bhāto bhānur iva prabhāta-gagane yo gaura-saṅkīrtanaiḥ
māyāvāda-timiṅgilodara-gatān uddhṛtya jīvanimān
kṛṣṇa-prema-sudhābdhi-gāhana-sukhaṁ prādāt prabhuṁ taṁ bhaje
(Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

“I serve my lord, who is known as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Within the lineage of gurus of the Gaudiya-sampraday, he shines like the sun in the morning sky.

Through the sankirtan of Sriman Mahaprabhu, he rescues the souls engulfed within the belly of the timingila of illusionism and bestows upon them the ecstasy of swimming in the nectarean ocean of Krishna-prem.”

--------------------------

nikhila-bhuvana-māyā-chinna-vichinna-kartrī
vibudha-bahula-mṛgyā-mukti-mohānta-dhātrī
śithilita-vidhi-rāgārādhya-rādheśa-dhānī
vilasatu hṛdi nityaṁ bhaktisiddhānta-vāṇī
(Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

“With his first step, he vigorously cut asunder the whole plane of exploitation, and with his second, he put a stop to all the calculations of the different scholars with their different conceptions of salvation, liberated stages.

With his third step, he minimized the hardness and stiffness of the rules and regulations of calculative devotional service, by a touch of the Divine Love: crossing Vaikuntha, he gave us the worship of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda.”

Biography
https://gaudiyadarshan.com/guardians/srila-saraswati-thakur/

Question and Answers with
Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj🙏🌷

Devotee: I know that at present I am a conditioned soul and am in māyā, but it is said that I have an eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. So, is it that I will only know that relationship when I become purified?

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj: Yes, when the mist will be cleared, the sun will shine in its full pristine glory. The mist of misunderstanding, in the form of anyābhilāṣ, karma, jñān, etc. is a covering. As that covering is gradually dissolved, the internal relationship will appear.

Devotee: Is this eternal relationship always the same or can it be changed, such as from vātsalya, parental loving affection, to madhura, conjugal love, or from madhura to dāsya, servitude?

Śrīla Guru Mahārāj: That will be known gradually. When the barrier, the cover, will be cleared, it will become revealed.

That separating wall will gradually fade, and as it becomes thinner and thinner, the relationship will be conceived. It is a gradual process and at first will be vague. When we will come to the stage of bhāva-bhakti, heart’s devotion, then it will come within our understanding somewhat and gradually will become clearer.

There are various stages leading to bhāva: anartha-nivṛtti, niṣṭhā, ruchi, āsakti, then bhāva. When devotion will reach the stage of bhāva, then of course that eternal relationship will appear to a certain extent in a vague way.

Then, by a gradual process, the definite identification, the particular quality of attraction one will feel for Kṛṣṇa, will become clear. The attraction, the connection between the two, is intervened by the foreign propensities of anyābhilāṣ, karma, jñān, etc.

As that barrier becomes thinner, the nature of rasa as well as its depth and intensity will gradually be disclosed. It is not vague or a product of the imagination but it is more clear than the sun.

Excerpt from the Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion

tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare cha nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam[17]
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.3.21)🙏🌷

All the scriptures advise us: “A teacher is necessary. Without a teacher you cannot understand anything. When the proper teacher comes in front of you, you must surrender to him and honour him.

Guru means a bearer and messenger of transcendental knowledge. Guru can be and must be honoured as your Lord Himself. This is because a genuine Guru is established with full knowledge on the spiritual platform and directly represents the Lord.”

By ‘knowledge’ we do not mean knowledge gathered from books and scriptures. That type of knowledge is not sufficient. A genuine Guru has feelings in his heart that have been revealed by his Guru which come from the Lord Himself.

A genuine Guru who has such real revealed knowledge in his heart can preach, and his students learn the proper thing.🙏

Srila Govinda Maharaj
Excerpt from Revealed Truth🌷🙏

Student: By following the process of purification, I’ve been told we can experience the spiritual world in this lifetime. Does everyone who follows the instruction of Guru and shastra have that taste, does it come to everybody.

Srila Guru Maharaj: There is gradation, variety is there. Some are going on, some coming back, up, down, this way, that way. Some are running away, some are running to the goal.

The individual traveller is responsible for his own progress and trouble, sometimes the environment is considered also.

From that higher domain we must accept that decision which descends, still partiality may also be traced; whoever has the capacity to receive more, will be given more.

To live in that land of love is most judicious for us, for there our life is ensured. If in any way we can secure a place in that realm, we are home.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj 🙏🌷

Purify your inner heart 🙏🌷

The Vaishnavas tell us, “Don’t try to go hurriedly to the higher level. Try to remain in the lower position. Circumstances and the environment will help you to go up. Don’t be eager to hold a higher position. The environment will arrange that, and in that way you will make natural progress. Always try to keep looking downward.

Purify your inner heart. Don’t be eager to purify the outer aspect. The internal aspect, the innermost aspect, that is all-important. Try to convert that into Krishna consciousness.

Do not busy yourself with making a show of being a devotee of Krishna. Rather, give all your attention to your heart within. An external show is not very injurious, but if there is a disease within you and that comes up, it can
create havoc.

Try to purify the innermost part of your heart, of your existence. So, do some service under the guidance of the Vaishnava. You may not understand what service is and what it is not, or where pratishtha, the spirit of renunciation, or anger, subtle exploitation, may exist.

Cast yourself wholly at the feet of the Vaishnava proper and try to be utilised by him. Be aloof to your own ego. Take it off and allow a Vaishnava to work in the workshop of your heart, allow them to handle things there.

You can’t understand what service proper is: sacrifice.

nirmatsaranam satam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.1.2)

[“The highest dharma is for the sadhus who are non-envious.”]

A matsara [one who considers themselves most important] cannot tolerate it when others are in a higher position, “Why should I not get the better position?”

That is the most dangerous envy in this campaign. So, don’t believe your self. Don’t trust your self. Rather, trust the Vaishnava, the Guru, and allow them to handle you. You will be benefitted thereby more and more.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj