Rays of The Harmonist
- How Will We Attain Kṛṣṇa-prema?
- Symptoms of Degradation
- "There is no way I can imagine a separate institution"
by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda
❝The living entity is not created; rather he is an eternal entity. Nor is the living soul inert, rather he is conscious. The independence that a living entity possesses has not been granted by anyone. Independence is innate in his existence and he only experiences distress due to misusing his independence...❞ ...
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by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝Unnecessary gossip about others (paracarcā) and acts of hypocrisy and deceit (kuṭīnāṭī) are symptoms of degradation. These disturbances are bound to occur if there is no taste for harināma and hari-kathā. Those who are desirous of progressing in hari-bhajana must keep distance from the association of anyone who indulges in paracarcā. If they don’t, the dirtiness of their hearts can also affect the hearts of those associating with them.❞ ..
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by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝Many preaching centres of the Gauḍīya Maṭha have been established today in the East and West, yet I consider all of them to be a single indivisible unit. I know those who have been favoured by jagad-guru Śrīla Sarasvatī Prabhupāda and those who are his disciples and grand-disciples to be my own people, and I convey my obeisance to them, knowing them to be Gauḍīyas. I know every Vaiṣṇava who is bathed in the current of Śrī Gaura-vāṇī-vinoda (the delight of Śrī Gaura’s message) to be my supreme well-wishing friend and most intimate relative, but there is no way I can imagine a separate institution.❞ ...
Read MoreYou, The Living Entity
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The jiva is a separated part and parcel of Krsna, but don’t think he is separate. He has no separate existence. He will always be subordinate to Krsna, in Goloka Vrndavana and here also...
Deep Talking While Walking
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Fire is everywhere, but it is not seen. Similarly the jiva, Goloka, Vaikuntha and all of the spiritual existences have come from cit-sakti, or antaranga-sakti, (the transcendental, internal potency of the Lord) They are not visible by these eyes. Only when, if they manifest themselves for some reason, can we see and know them...
What a Preacher Should Know
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You should know all these truths. Krsnadas Kaviraja Gosvami and all of our disciplic succession included these in their literatures. Caitanya Mahaprabhu defeated Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, and Srila Jiva Gosvami defeated so many. Srila Rupa Gosvami knew all these truths, but he left it for his disciples to explain; and he did only that...
A Fact of Wonder
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How did this world come to be? The answer is given in this first verse, beginning "janmady asya." There are many meanings to this verse, and Sri Svarupa Damodara is giving the general meaning here...
Causeless Mercy
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By one's previous samskaras (impressions on the heart created by previous devotional activities) and spiritual advancement, Krsna will arrange for him to have the proper association - according to his heart - and svajatiyasaya-snigdha rasika siddhanta-vit bhaktas (pure, self-realized devotees, who know fully all the knowledge in the Vedic scriptures, and who are established in the mood of one's svarupa, the mood for which one aspires) will associate with him if he is sincere and qualified for that...
A Bouquet of Prayers - Mathura - 1993
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A devotee may come to me, he may come to you, to others in this room, or to others not present here. There are so many devotees; it is not necessarily that he will come to me. The subject matters he discusses will be according to the amount of mercy he receives. There are several types of devotees. Devotees are not in one grade; there are so many various grades of devotees, and according to their grade they will come to you, to him, or to others. It depends on Krsna and the spiritual master...
Ladies and Men, and other Topics
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Brajanath dasa: Gurudeva, when we first came to Kartika, we saw how everything was managed by you. We saw how there were no management meetings; nothing of the sort.
Srila Gurudeva: There was no meeting at all at that time, and still there is no meeting. Everything transpires as if automatically.
The Hidden Meaning In Srila Prabhupada's Pranama Mantra
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[Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja:] What is the second sloka in the pranama mantra of your Gurudeva?
[Drstadyumna dasa:] namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani pracarine nirvesesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine
[Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja:] What is that gaura-vani he preached?
The Real Question
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Kavi also explained, "O King, one who accepts this process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead will never blunder on his path in this world. Even while running with eyes closed, he will never trip or fall."
Bathing
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There was once a devotee who wanted to receive initiation from a bona fide guru. The guru read his face and immediately knew everything about his heart. The guru told him, "You should come to me tomorrow after taking bath, and I will initiate you." The next day, in the early morning, that devotee went to the Ganges, took bath...
I Like This Matha
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The mood of respect and honor at all times is applicable in the disciple-guru relationship. Even in the true sadhaka stage, the disciple must always be in a mood of awe and reverence...
Questions and Answers While Walking - Houston 2009
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By distributing books, Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja preached throughout the world. His books went house-to-house; to all cities, to forests, mountains, hotels, trains, bookstores, and practically everywhere else. I want my disciples to distribute my books in the same way. My books should reach every house, and every part of the world...
Any Questions?
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We understand from scripture that Sri Guru is present everywhere. So, what is the difference between my asking in an internal prayer to Gurudeva to remove all obstacles to my bhakti – like lust, anger, greed illusion, madness, and bewilderment – and asking him directly, face to face, to remove them?
That Owl Will Blind You
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You should know. If you come in high-class association, they can tell you the purport of the Gita. Very easily, in one second, they can tell you. What are the symptoms of a madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava? If you don't answer, I will give you a very big slap...
Keep It In Your Heart-Pocket
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Whatever I have explained in my classes this past week - you should keep in your pocket; the pocket of your heart Never forget it. If Sri Krsna and the mahat-purusa are both present in the world, we should first try to obey and take shelter of the mahat. Krsna can cheat you, whereas the mahat will not...
Let Your Jobs Go - No Harm
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The essence of all this hari-katha is that without the causeless mercy of mahat, the perfect devotee, we cannot attain krsna-bhakti. If one neglects the maha-purusa guru - siksa-guru - pure Vaisnava - he cannot have krsna-bhakti even after hundreds of thousands of births. On the other hand, if one performs austerity under a mahat-purusa's guidance, he can very easily attain it...
