How we are passing our days?

"If we examine ourselves, we will read and cry: “What have I done? What is my necessity? And how am I passing my days? I must repent, cry. I have passed my days... uselessly, I am a traitor to my own self, I am committing suicide. My real complaint is against myself and my so-called friends. We have nothing to do here.” So, read and cry; do or die! Progress in the right way or you are inviting your death."

—Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja


""Se examinamos nós mesmos, vamos fazer a leitura e chorar: "O que eu fiz? Qual a minha real necessidade? E como estou passando meus dias? Devo me arrepender, chorar. Tenho passado meus dias inutilmente. Sou um traidor do meu próprio ser. Estou cometendo suicídio. Minha real reclamação é contra eu mesmo e meus assim chamados 'amigos'. Não temos nada o que fazer aquí". Então, leia e chore. Faça ou morra! Progrida no caminho certo ou você estará convidando sua própria morte". Srila B.R.Sridhar Goswami.

O bem Absoluto

O bem Absoluto

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

 

 

Pergunta: Como podemos convencer os seres humanos que os animais também têm alma? No ocidente as pessoas matam muitos animais, especialmente vacas.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Eu não sou um membro do comitê de salvação das vacas. Sou membro do movimento para a Consciência de Krishna. Eu lido com isto. Existem muitas e muitas associações. Os Jainistas e os assim chamados ‘Hindús’ podem estar muito ansiosos em formar associações contra a matança de vacas e proclamar: “Não matem as vacas”. Nós pertecemos á outro plano. Onde está a questão de matança de vacas?

   Krishna diz no Gita que existe uma posição (situação) onde alguém pode destruir todo o universo, incluindo as vacas, brahmanas e sadhus juntamente com ele, e ainda sim não receber nenhuma reação. Isto realmente existe. Tentem obter esta posição. Esta ainda não é a posição mais elevada. Mas, através disso você irá passar para o plano da pura auto-renúncia. Não se permita ser um membro deste mundo físico (material), o mundo do bem e do mal físico. Tente se manter distante da relatividade mundana e seja um membro do plano transcendental.  Aqui, todo o calculo do bom e do ruim é falso. O bom e o ruim são ambos falsos. Então, engaje a si mesmo em distribuir Krishna. Não desperdice sua energia, invista sua energia sempre em distribuir Krishna (Deus).

   Você deve se conectar com Krishna. Sua conexão é com Krishna. Não nos importamos em nascer e morrer milhares de vezes se isto nos conectar com Krishna. Para reconectar com Krishna, devemos abraçar isto. Mahaprabhu diz:

 

sanatana, deha-tyage krishna yadi paiye
koti-deha ksaneke tabe chhadite pariye

 

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Antya-lila, 4.55)

 

“Sanatana, se por abandonar este corpo, a pessoa pode se conectar com Krishna, então em um segundo estarei pronto para morrer milhares e milhares de vezes”.

 

Porém, não podemos conectar com Krishna através de um sacrifício tolo como este. Isto requer um caminho apropriado; escutar, cantar, lembrar-se de Krishna, associar e servir Seus devotos. Krishna não pode ser obtido por sacrificar o corpo. Esta é uma tendência kshatriya, uma tendência brutal, “Eu mato meu próprio corpo. Sou um grande homem”. Não. Isto é tolice. Isto pode impressionar uma pessoa mundana, mas na Consciência de Krishna um herói mundano não tem nenhum valor. Tentar acabar com a matança de vacas pode ser a obrigação de alguém  em um plano particular da vida. Se alguém vem até mim, eu posso dizer: “Oh, não mate.” Posso dizer muitas coisas. Porém não devo lutar e morrer por esta causa. Meu tempo é muito valioso, ele existe para obter Consciência de Krishna. Não posso desperdiçar meu tempo na luta material.

   O desejo de Deus é tão grande que Abraão estava indo matar seu próprio filho Ismael para satisfazer Ele. Abraão ouviu uma voz dizendo que Allah queria que ele sacrificasse seu filho, então ele estava pronto para fazer isto. Para satisfazer o doce desejo de Krishna, não Krishna, mas alguma concepção de Deus, foi-lhe pedido que matasse seu filho e ele estava pronto para este teste: “Sim, estou pronto.” Então, Krishna é tão elevado. Em comparação com o serviço á Krishna, salvar o corpo de uma vaca ou de qualquer outra coisa, não pode se tornar uma preocupação.

   Tais coisas são de propensões muito baixas. O serviço á Krishna é tão elevado. Tudo pode ser sacrificado por Krishna. Seu serviço é tão valioso. Nada se compara a isto. É tão valioso, tão urgente, tão necessário, tão puro. Não devemos nos enganar. Sentir que estamos engajados em krishna-katha, que devemos tentar servir Krishna, isto é muito elevado, muito valioso. Uma pessoa comum imersa no ilusório “bom e ruim”-sattva-raja e tamo guna (nos modos na natureza material), tentará parar com a matança de vacas, proteger os brahmanas etc... Também, as vacas são reverenciadas aqui porque Krishna as ama (no mundo espiritual). Aqui, temos apenas um reflexo pervertido daquilo. Vacas são favoráveis a Krishna mas Suas vacas não são vacas deste mundo. Ainda sim há um reflexo pervertido daquilo aqui e ver as vacas mortas trará um sentimento indesejável no interior de um Sadhu.

 Srimad Bhagavad-gita (18.17)

 

yasya nahankrito bhavo buddhir yasya na lipyate
hatvapi sa imal lokan na hanti na nibadhyate

 

“Aquele que está livre do falso ego, cuja inteligência não está aprisionada no mundano, nunca mata nem é preso por suas ações, até mesmo se ele destrói o mundo inteiro”.

Association is the bases of onés nature by Bhaktivinod Thakur Mahsay

"A Deliberation on the Methodology of Sadhu-sanga"


by HDG Sri Srimad Bhaktivinoda Thakur Mahasaya -- originally published in Sri Sajjana-toshani, 1917.


Association is the basis of one's nature

A person's nature is shaped by the company he keeps. In other words, a person develops a nature similar to that of whomever he associates with. The jiva's association with the fruitive activities he performed in his past life molds his nature, and this nature is transformed by the company he keeps in his current life. Thus, association is the root cause in forming a person's character. It has therefore been said:


yasya yat sangatih pumso
manivat syat sa tad-gunah


Sri Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (quoted in Sri Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.229)
The quartz crystal assumes the color of any object in its proximity, regardless of the hue of that object. Similarly, a person acquires the qualities of whomever he joins company with.
Sadhu-sanga is the path to liberation
Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.23.55) states:


sango yah samsriter hetur
asatsu vihito 'dhiya
sa eva sadhushu krito
nihsangatvaya kalpate


By associating with worldly-minded materialists, a person is bound to undergo severe suffering in material existence. He will certainly have to bear the consequences of his association, even if he cannot distinguish between good and bad. By associating with saintly persons, however, a person attains nihsangatva, complete freedom from worldly attachments.
Relinquishing unfavorable association is essential
Regarding bad association, Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.31.33-34) affirms:


satyam saucam daya maunam
buddhih srir hrir yasah kshama
samo damo bhagas ceti
yat-sangad yati sankshayam
teshv asanteshu mudheshu
khanditatmasv asadhushu
sangam na kuryac chocyeshu
yoshit-krida-mrigeshu ca


Worldly association destroys all one's virtues like truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, intelligence, shyness, prosperity, reputation, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, good fortune and opulence. One should utterly reject the company of a person who is not a sadhu, considering such association to be extremely miserable, for such a wicked and restless fool is but a dancing dog in the hands of a woman and is thereby simply bent on annihilating himself.
The symptoms of a sadhu, and the necessity of sadhu-sanga
We do not, however, attain the desired goal merely by renouncing bad association. We must earnestly engage in sadhu-sanga. The symptoms of a genuine sadhu, one whose association must be sought, have been outlined in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.21,23-24):


titikshavah karunikah
suhridah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhushanah
mad-asrayah katha mrishtah
srinvanti kathayanti ca
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-cetasah
ta ete sadhavah sadhvi
sarva-sanga-vivarjitah
sangas teshv atha te prarthyah
sanga-dosha-hara hi te


Lord Kapila said, "O Mother, the sublime ornaments of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and a well-wisher and friend to all living entities. He considers no one his enemy, is peaceful and abides by the scriptures. These qualities comprise the nature of all pure devotees. Since the minds of such personalities are fully absorbed in Me, they do not perform the arduous endeavors of those lured by the paths of karma, jnana or ashtanga-yoga. Rather, they engage themselves simply in speaking and hearing hari-katha, their minds having been easily cleansed by narrations of My pastimes. O virtuous lady, these devotees, who are completely free from all worldly attachments, counteract the harmful effects of a person's material bondage. You should pray for their association."
A sadhu is very rare and not to be judged by external dress
We should not identify a sadhu by his external garb. Even if someone has completely given up criticizing others and engaging in idle gossip, he must clearly possess the above-mentioned virtues before we can recognize him as a sadhu. In this Age of Kali, knowledge of what makes a real sadhu is vanishing. It is a matter of grave concern that anyone and everyone who dresses himself as a sadhu is acknowledged as one. We should be ever mindful that by associating with such false sadhus we become duplicitous ourselves. There are few genuine sadhus. They are currently so rare that a person would be lucky to discover one after intently searching far and wide for a very long time
.
Krishna-bhakti influenced by madhurya-rasa is especially uncommon
Mahadeva (Lord Siva) once said to Devi (Parvati),
"O Bhagavati, among thousands upon thousands of persons desiring salvation, perhaps one exhibits the characteristics of a liberated soul. Among thousands upon thousands of such persons, maybe one actually achieves spiritual realization and perfection. And among millions and millions of perfected and liberated souls, perhaps one, on the strength of his past virtuous activities (sukriti) and good association (sat-sanga), is devoted to Lord Narayana. Just see, the devotees of Lord Narayana are self-satisfied, and therefore they are extremely rare. But look here. If the pure devotee who serves Lord Narayana in dasya-rasa, the mood of servitor-ship, is so rare, how much more uncommon is he who serves Sri Krishna in madhurya-rasa, the mood of amorous love."
The devotee of Lord Krishna is the topmost sadhu, and the fruit of associating with him is the highest
Only Sri Krishna's pure devotee, who possesses all the symptoms mentioned previously, is to be considered the best of sadhus, and his association is highly desirable for us. Sri Brahma describes [Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.36)] the benefit we receive from this association:


tavad ragadayah stenas
tavat kara-griham griham
tavan moho 'nghri-nigado
yavat krishna na te janah


Sri Brahma says, "The attachment and hatred that arise from spontaneous absorption in the objects of sense gratification are robbing us of our true nature. Our homes have become nothing but prison houses and we are constantly bound by the foot-shackles of material affection (moha). What a miserable condition we are in. O Sri Krishna, only when possessiveness (mamata) towards You awakens in my heart by associating with Your pure devotees, shall I be counted among Your associates. From that day, the various propensities of my mind, such as attachment, shall no longer act like thieves but like beloved friends, by allowing me to engage in pure devotional service to You. Only then will my home become transcendental and bestow eternal bliss; only from that day will my power of affection become favorable for devotional service and actually advance the cause of my soul."
Lord Brahma offered further prayers, Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.30):


tad astu me natha sa bhuri-bhago
bhave 'tra vanyatra tu va tirascam
yenaham eko 'pi bhavaj-jananam
bhutva nisheve tava pada-pallavam


"O Sri Krishna," he entreated, "my earnest prayer is that in this life as Brahma, or in any other species of life, even as an animal or a bird, I may attain the fortune of being counted as one of Your devotees and engage in devotional service to Your lotus feet." One achieves this exalted position only by associating with a pure devotee of Sri Krishna.
Sadhu-sanga misconceived
What activities comprise sadhu-sanga? This is a matter of great importance. Generally people think that sadhu-sanga is performed when one identifies a sadhu and massages his feet, offers obeisances to him, honours his caranamrita, takes his remnants or donates some money to him. It is true that a person honors a sadhu by these activities and thereby derives some benefit, but it is incorrect to deem these activities sadhu-sanga.
The methodology of associating with sadhus
Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.46) describes how to engage in sadhu-sanga:


te vai vidanty atitaranti ca deva-mayam
stri-sudra-huna-sabara api papa-jivah
yady adbhuta-krama-parayana-sila-sikshas
tiryag-jana api kim u sruta-dharana ye


"Surrendered souls, even from groups leading sinful lives, such as women, the laborer class, the mountaineers and the Siberians, or even the birds and beasts, can also know about the science of Godhead and become liberated from the clutches of the illusory energy by surrendering unto the pure devotees of the Lord and by following in their footsteps in devotional service."
The word adbhuta-krama denotes Sri Krishna, whose pure devotees are adbhuta-krama-parayana, or dedicated to Him. Only those who make a great endeavor to seek training and instruction from the sila (behavior), or nature and spotless character, of such pure devotees can understand the illusory potency of the Lord. They alone become capable of fully crossing the ocean of maya.
Even souls who are born as women, sudras, hunas (a hill tribe originating from Eastern Germany and part of Russia), sabaras (a tribe of hunters who keep and sell pigs) or other sinful kinds of human beings, or as animals and birds, can learn from the character of a Krishna-bhakta and thereby effortlessly cross the ocean of birth and death. Thus, what doubt can there be that scholars with profuse knowledge of the scriptures will not also easily cross the ocean of material bondage by following the spotless conduct and character of a pure devotee.
In conclusion, one cannot transcend the power of maya even after acquiring knowledge from many scriptures. No great benefit is achieved from birth in a high-class family, and one is unable to cross the material ocean of birth and death even after practicing the dry renunciation enjoined in sastra. Nor can worldly opulence and physical beauty render this favor. One achieves unalloyed, transcendental devotional service to Sri Krishna only by very carefully investigating the nature and character of the pure devotee, who is a true sadhu, and then by honestly following him.
The materialist's humility and appeals for mercy are utter hypocrisy
Materialistic persons offer obeisances to a sadhu and pray to him, "O benevolent one, I am extremely fallen. Please bestow your mercy upon me and explain how my attachments to this world may be removed." But their words are hollow. In the depths of their heart, they are convinced that accumulating wealth is real gain, and amassing objects for sense enjoyment is life's only goal. An infatuation for money burns in their hearts day and night. The materialist hankers to be recognized by the sadhu and fears that the sadhu's curse may destroy his prospects for sensual pleasure. Therefore, he displays false humility and devotion before him. If the sadhu were to bless such a person by saying, "May your desire for sense gratification be extinguished, your opulence destroyed and your relatives taken away", the materialist would at once cry, "O Sadhu-Maharaja, be kind! Don't bless me like this. Your favor is a curse and definitely harmful for me." Just see! Such behavior with a sadhu makes a mockery of sadhu-sanga.
Duplicity deprives one of the real fruits of sadhu-sanga
In the course of life, we may encounter many sadhus, but our deceitful natures check us from receiving the real benefit of their association. Our souls will make spiritual advancement if, with simple faith, we carefully and continuously assimilate the spotless character of a genuine sadhu - that is, a mahatma, great soul. Keeping this in mind, we should associate closely with a sadhu. By doing so, we will become conscious of his nature and character and make a focused endeavor to develop such a nature and character ourselves. This, indeed, is the teaching of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Translated from Sri Gaudiya Patrika, Year 2, Issue 7 (1950). Originally published in Sri Sajjana-toshani in 1917.

A Real proposta dos Vedas

A Real proposta dos Vedas

                                                                                                               “Chegou a nova era”. É comum hoje em dia ouvir frases como esta, era moderna, era de aquário, era da tecnologia e assim por diante. Porém tudo que chega até nós através de um canal não eterno e não divino sofre transformação com o passar do tempo. Um conhecimento passado para varias pessoas sofre alterações de acordo com o entendimento individual e do seu nível de compreensão. A verdade recebida por um canal imperfeito sofre variação que passada adiante se distancia cada vez mais da idéia original. Mesmo assim o conceito original é absoluto, eterno e imperecível. Primeiramente Krishna falou o Bhagavad Gita ao Deus do sol e com o passar do tempo a idéia original se perdeu devido ao contato com pessoas não qualificadas para absorver a essência do que foi dito. Por isto, Sri Krsna veio e falou o Gita novamente a Arjuna. E passados cinco mil anos desde que o Gita foi falado novamente, a idéia original se perdeu novamente. Várias culturas tentaram absorver a idéia original dos Vedas: Mayas, Grécia, Egito etc. Todas elas reconhecem o valor da cultura Védica, porém compreenderam os ensinamentos de acordo com as suas limitadas capacidades. Estes versos abaixo são encontrados no livro “Sri Bhagavatarka Marichi Mala” de Bhaktivinoda Thakur :

 

Yabhir bhutani bhidyante

Bhutanam patayas tatha

Yatha-prakrti sarvesam

Citra vacah sravanti hi

 

“Devido a variedade de suas propensões naturais, estas entidades vivas foram distinguidas dos seus mestres. De acordo com suas diferentes naturezas, diferentes tipos de entendimentos foram falados.”

 

Evam prakriti-vaicitryad

Bhidyante matayo nrnam

Paramparyena kesancit

Pasanda-matayo pare

 

“Assim, devido ás diferentes naturezas das pessoas, vários tipos de opinião foram introduzidas. Algumas destas opiniões continuam através da sucessão discipular. E algumas pessoas começaram a propagar filosofias ateístas.”

 

Chegamos então na era da tecnologia e da exploração. Tudo está sendo conectado e tudo está sendo explorado. Chegou-se ao ponto de cientistas e químicos modernos terem a idéia de criar vidas através da união de moléculas e outros elementos matériais. Eles pensam que vão poder acabar com a morte em breve e para isto não percebem que vão morrer juntamente com esta idéia ainda “no papel”. Negar o controlador e o criador de todas as coisas deste mundo e se manter como explorador das coisas criadas por Deus, se tornou o objetivo máximo da humanidade. Mesmo assim, as pessoas ainda continuam nascendo, envelhecendo, sofrendo e morrendo. 

 

Ady-anta-vanta evaisam

Lokah karma-vinirmitah

Duhkhodarkas tamo-nisthah

Ksudra mandah sucarpitah

 

“O destino de todas estas pessoas tem um começo e um final, então é temporário, cheio de misérias na longa jornada, no modo da ignorância, insignificante, mundano e cheio de lamentação.”

                                                                                                                                A situação está tão caótica que ate mesmo a população de tolos, materialistas e exploradores começam a pensar agora em vegetarianismo devido á descobertas de doenças provindas do consumo abusivo de carne animal, medicina natural (ayurvédica) ou até mesmo a chinesa (acupuntura) etc..., que nada mais é que uma das partes estudadas nos Ayur-vedas (textos sagrados milenares relacionados a medicina), onde Krishna na forma do medico supremo, Dhanvantari, explica a medicina natural pura, yoga e assim por diante.

A raça humana atual esta imbuída em uma serie de doenças sejam elas físicas, mentais e espirituais. Procura-se hoje mais as curas para as doenças físicas e mentais do que as espirituais. O apego pelo corpo e  mente (os quais são meramente temporários e produtos do karma prévio) é muito maior do que o apego pelo eterno e espiritual (a  alma indestrutível). Para este fim procuram-se muito agora o yoga voltado para o bem estar físico e mental, o vegetarianismo, a ayurveda, a acupuntura e as medicinas naturais. O impressionante nisto é que o pensamento dificilmente se volta à cura da alma, do espírito, que é o que temos de mais importante, o único elemento que é eterno, que pode dar verdadeiro prazer a todo o ser e que é a essência de todos nós. “O corpo nunca vive e a alma nunca morre”. Apesar disto tentam ocultar ou menosprezar a cura do espírito entendendo que o corpo e a mente são de maior importância e assim lutam arduamente por resultado temporários perecíveis. Importância esta que acabará na hora do inevitável, a morte.

Então a cultura Védica vem para nos informar que não somos este corpo composto por terra, água, fogo, ar, éter, mente, inteligência e falso ego e sim somos almas espirituais dotadas de elementos transcendentais sac-(conhecimento), cit (eternidade) e ananda (êxtase, felicidade). Os sastras Védicos apesar de tratar dos assuntos relacionados com o corpo e a mente no decorrer dos ensinamentos, chega um ponto que todas estas rasteiras idéias são descartadas para dar lugar ao Eterno, ao espiritual e a real busca de todos nós. Vemos que primeiramente Veda Vyasa- o compilador dos Vedas, compôs o Yajur-veda, Sama-veda, Atharva-veda, Rg-Veda, depois compôs os Puranas, Maha-Bharata, Upanisads etc. mas ainda sim não ficou satisfeito. Ele sentiu que após milhares de livros com tópicos relacionados com os modos materiais e diversas formas de adoração temporária, ainda sim não se sentiu auto-realizado. Então Seu mestre espiritual Sri Narad o instruiu: “Escreva agora sobre a Pessoa suprema, O senhor do Universo e libere o mundo inteiro da doença da alma. Se fizeseres isso sentirás realizado e dará real ajuda a humanidade”.

Vyasa Deva então compôs o Srimad-Bhagavatam onde se explica quem somos realmente, quem é Deus, qual a nossa ralação com Ele e qual é o processo onde podemos alcança-lo (bhakti).

Assim como Vyasadeva a não ser que deliberamos sobre o nosso real ser e sobre a Pessoa suprema o Senhor do Universo não nos sentiremos totalmente realizados neste mundo. A alma sempre deseja felicidade, amor e harmonia, e isso só é obtido através da conexão com a Pessoa Suprema (Deus). Neste ponto toda a nossa conexão com este mundo mortal se queimará e a sede do espírito se saciará como néctar provindo da beleza e do amor da Dinvidade Suprema Sri Krsna a realidade o Belo.

 

Veda brahmatma-visayas

Tri-kanda-visaya ime

Paroksa vada rsayah

Paroksam mama ca priyam

 

“Aos olhos das pessoas comuns, A literatura Védica são divididas em três seções: karma ou atividades fruitivas, devata ou adoração aos Semi-Deuses e yajna ou realização da Verdade Abasoluta. Mas se alguém compreende o real significado dos Vedas, vai ver que todas as injunções Védicas ensina á adoração ao Deus Supremo Sri Krishna. Todos os mantras dado nos Vedas apontam para um caminho indireto. Em outras palavras, o que estes mantras parecem nos ensinar não é na verdade a real proposta. A explicação confidencial dos Vedas é conceder elevação espiritual.”

 

 

Baladeva das brahmachari

 

Nabadwip parikram-2009-Parte 4

Sri Chaitanya-dev Appearance day by Srila Gour Govinda Goswami Maharaj

Antardvip Darshan (1): Crossing the Ganga to Mayapur

"Absolute bliss is not subordinate to us" Srila B.B.Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurang Jayatah!

 

Absolute bliss is the Supreme Person — Parabrahma. He is omnipotent and omniscient. There is nothing equal to Him or more than Him. Absolute Bliss can take the initiative. He is no unconscious cipher. We commit a Himalayan blunder when we think that Absolute Bliss is subservient to us. Nobody in the universe can have contact with Him by a challenging mood. Those who make such attempts for the realization of Absolute Bliss by their finite intellectual and mental endeavor will be totally frustrated and that transcendental, spiritual, blissful realm will remain ever-sealed for them. We cannot approach Him by the process of ascension. He will descend to a completely surrendered soul. It is categorically said in the Gita (7.15): 'The mischievous and demoniac persons will never submit to the Supreme Lord'. Just after that it is also said — ‘four kinds of persons who have got previous eternal spiritual good impressions will have the aptitude to worship Him’.

 

In respect to this, the evidence is referred in Srimad  Bhagavatam (7.6.3), Prahlada's advice to the demon boys: “O demon boys! Embodied souls, owing to their connection with bodies, have produced passion of sense organs for corresponding sense-enjoyments. But such material enjoyments will come automatically, without endeavor, according to previous destiny. Nobody wants misery or pain but it comes automatically because of previous misdeeds. Hence, it is not proper or necessary to make efforts to get worldly pleasures because by such endeavor one's duration of life will be wasted. We will get eternal welfare by worshipping the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord Krishna. But we will never get such benefit by endeavoring for material pleasures.”

 

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

"Whats the exact meaning of Rupanuga?" Srila B.V.Narayan Goswami explain...

Prabhupad vani- "Glories of my divine master"

Question: How does actual service to Krishna (Krishna-seva) happen?


Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur: Actual service to Krishna (Krishna-seva) happens on...ly through the service of Krishna’s devotees, viz. Guru and Vaishnav. Sahajiyas are not able to understand this. They think, “One who worships Krishna (directly), he is the greatest” and thus they consider themselves Vaishnavs, take service from others and themselves abandon the service of Guru and Vaishnav.

However, one who has heard the teachings of Sri Chaitanyadev and the Goswamis knows that truly truly the service of Krishna (Krishna-seva) happens only through the service of Krishna’s devotees, viz. Guru and Vaishnava.
Those who abandon the service and guidance of the sadhus and Sri Guru (Sadhu-Guru-seva and anugatya) and feign the service of Krishna (Krishna-seva) and the service of the holy Name (Nam-bhajan), make offences (aparadha) with every step they take. Whenever one is making offence (aparadha), they are not chanting the holy Name of Krishna (Krishna-nam) or engaging in the service of Krishna (Krishna-seva).
On the contrary, all surrendered devotees who proceed under the guidance of Guru and Vaishnav and serve them (practice Guru-Vaishnav anugatya and seva) (in truth) serve Krishna and chant the holy Name of Krishna, by the mercy of Guru and Krishna. Only those who serve Krishna’s devotees, viz. Guru and Vaishnav with faith and affectionate love (adara and priti) receive the mercy of Sri Chaitanyadev and the Goswamis.
(At the time) when my conception was, “I am a greatly learned in mathematic scriptures, I am greatly learned in philosophical scriptures,” by good fortune I obtained the association (darshan) of Sri Gurudev.
When he then struck down my great truthfulness, my pure, ethical life, my scholarship, and so forth, knowing them to be trifling, I understood, “I cannot conceive how great this personality is who can strike down (all) my great virtues!” By him striking me down, I was able to understand, “There is no one so lowly or abominable as me; this is my nature. This great soul (mahatma) is not attributing any value to scholarship, ethical character, and any of the things I am considering to be supremely desirable.”
Then I understood, “Such invaluable things must be present within this great personality!” Then I considered, “Either he is extremely merciful or he is extremely egotistical (ahankari).” Then I humbly prayed to the Lord for mercy.
Thereafter, by the mercy of the Lord, I was able to understand that apart from the mercy and service of this type of great personality who is devoid of desire for anything of this world (Nishkinchan Maha-purush) there is no other road towards my welfare. When I properly understood in this way, I then received the shelter and abounding mercy of Sri Gurudev and thus became fulfilled.
Through the strike I have received from Sri Gurudev, I have understood that if the people of this world are not struck down in the same way, they will not become conscious, their proper awareness will not come about. So I am saying to everyone, “I am the greatest fool; among all the people present in this world, I am the greatest fool; you all should not be a fool like me, you all should not remain absorbed in calculative (illusory) subjects, (but rather) you all should enter into subjects of the spiritual world (Vaikuntha–katha), (then) you will become great personalities.”
I am speaking to you all the good words of he whom, by the mercy of the Lord, I have understood to be the supreme good (param-mangal)—Sri Gurudev.
___________________________
English translation of Bengali text.
Sri Gaudiya Darshan

Nabadwip P.2008- Sripad Nemi Maharaj heart-touching kirtan and Gurudev P...

Pure Kirtan and Covered Kirtan

Srimat Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj im OKB Berlin 31.07.1998- English- Deutsch

Srimad Bhagavad Gita door Srila Gurudev B.V.Narayan Goswami met Nederlandse vertaling door Janaki Nath prabhu

http://pt.scribd.com/doc/299491136/Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita-NLrev3ed-pdf

Srila Gurudev about Manah Siksa and the only way to get madhurya prema.

Madhvacharya-Bhimana bande 2

Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja : What is the purpose of the Gaudiya Matha?

   Many people who come forward to perform sadhana-bhajana, to lead a life of devotional service, become trapped by the illusory potency of the Lord and become attached to maya in her feature as a woman. In this way they entrench their life in misery. We should be ever alert to this. The Gaudiya Matha is not an establishment intended to facilitate this. What is the purpose of the... Gaudiya Matha? It is to sincerely and purely follow the teachings of Srila Rupa Gosvami. The Gaudiya Matha's very existence is based on one objective alone: to follow the instructions of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami by becoming acquainted with their teachings and performing bhajana accordingly.

One who leads such a life by remaining under the shelter of a genuine guru actually performs Vyasa-puja. Such conduct alone signifies fitting worship of Srila Rupa Gosvami and our entire guru-parampara. If one wishes to perform sadhana-bhajana by following such rules and regulations then one may stay in the matha, but there is no place in the matha for those nurturing worldly (asat) propensities.
You all should clearly understand that the matha is not a place for arranging and celebrating marriages. If one wants to practise bhajana in its purest form, then one should reside in the matha and serve Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, even though one may receive chastisement from them. Sri Narada's curse upon Nalakuvara and Manigriva proved to be extremely beneficial for them. In the same manner, the chastisement of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas is also highly auspicious. If a person tolerates their chastisement and continues to reside in the matha, then he alone can truly understand their mercy.


source : India, Mathura, 16 July 2008

Gaudiya Parampara and its Supreme Especiality.

Gaudiya Vaishnava Bhagavat Guru Parampara and His Supreme Especiality

A clarification of some misconceptions regarding the Gaudiya Vaishnava Guru Parampara and their mood of devotion.

*Pancharatrika and Bhagavat-Guru Parampara

*Jagad Guru Prabhupad Sri Srimad Bhaktissidhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur delineated the Rupanuga line of highest devotion in his song “Guru parampara”

*Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana is Ratnavali Devi- belong to the manjari´s group of Gopis.

               * The glories of Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan Mahasay

             * Diference between Raganuga and Rupanuga

             * Priya Narma Sakhas are in sakhya rasa

             * All Gaudiya Acharyas have fixed the same supreme goal and devotion

           * Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj is surely a Rupanuga Acharya in all respects.

         * Sometimes, Vaisnavas hide their internal mood according to time and circunstances.

          * Srila Sukadev Goswami is right, Srila Jayadev Goswami is right

   In the beginning of Srila Gurudev B.V.Narayan Goswami´s book called “Prabandha Pancakam”, Srila Gurudev says:

“Nowadays, as in the field of politics, we find that envy, hatred, bickering, insubordination or reluctance in the matter of accepting the guidance of senior authorities and other anomalies have also entered the arena of dharma. In former times everyone used to deeply revere the axiom “mahäjano yena gataù sa panthä” and honour the principle of änugatya, (accepting the guidance of one's respectable superiors. Due to the deteriorating influence of time, some narrow-minded modernists want to cut away at the holy thread of anygatya in the ancient parampara-system and destroy friendship between the pure sampradayas. They consider themselves important by inventing an imaginary process of bhajan and then establishing them as authentic. These people who are creating factions within the sampradaya cannot understand that by their ignoble endeavours, contrary to serving the mano´bhista or innermost desire of Kali Yuga Avatari Sri Chaitanya |Mahaprabhu, they are digging up the roots of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya”

   We see that Gurudev words are still suitable for the present. Especially the misconceptions regarding the goal propagated by the Acharyas of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism have been misinterpreted by many preachers and the so called ‘advanced’ devotees who have been propagating their own erroneous and unbased philosophy regarding this topic. Especially among them are; Krsna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON leaders and a Sangha created by Swami Tripurari. They all have the same imaginary idea regarding some of the topics that we will discuss in this article. The evidences here presented are not mine; they came from the bonafide Gurus who are also the diksa or sanyassi Guru of the 3 Institutions who are spreading these imaginary ideas regarding the Gaudiya Parampara and their tattva-siddhanta. So, something had to be written- on the base of tattva-siddhanta, to ascertain the goal of our life before we start the appropriate practice in order to attain that goal. That’s why Gurudev used to quote Srila Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami, who in the beginning of his Chaitanya Caritamrta, just after the mangala-carana, told about the goal and the importance to fix it first:

Sukadev Goswami is right, Jayadev Goswami is right- Prabhupad Saraswati Thakur

Srila Sukadev Goswami is right, Srila Jayadev Goswami is right

   In the book called “Prabhupad Saraswati Thakur” by Mandala Publishing Group wich contains many articles written by Prabhupad, in the page 117 of the same, Prabhupad wrote:

   “The ‘hidden matters’ can only be known by the special mercy of Sri Krishna and not otherwise. They are not to be divulged to all persons indiscriminately. This explanation offered by the Goswamis is not opposed to the open treatment of the same subject by Sri Jayadeva and others writers. In spite of the Gita Govinda and its companion works, the subject of the relationship of Sri Radhika to Sri Krishna remains shrouded in impenetrable mistery. No language can convey to the lay reader anything but a misleading idea of the nature of the subject on wich Sri Sukadev maintained such discrite silence. This result is hailed with unmistakable joy by Srila Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami, author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta. Kaviraj Goswami pertinently observes that no joy can excel that of the narrator of the hidden subject when he realizes that those very persons are wholly and automatically barred from all knowledge of the subject. They will surely not appreciate the same for fear of whose neblect the writer is afraid to narrate fully. Sri Sukadev Goswami´s hesitation to divulge the secrets of the Vedas is well founded. The conduct of Sri jayadev Goswami in speaking without reserve is equally in order if we remember that his book cannot be understood at all by those who are lacking in the highest spiritual culture.

   Certain uncritical writers have even thrown mud at the author of Gita-Govinda; but they are the exceptions. Generally writers have thought it wise to avoid all reference to the subject for the honest enough reason that they have failed to understand how a book wich has a most obscene exterior could be cherished by all the great devotees of the country, whose conduct is universally admitted to have been free from any taint of casuality.”

Srila Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Gosvami Maharaja Vyasapuja 2001