Rays of The Harmonist
- Symptoms of Degradation
- "There is no way I can imagine a separate institution"
- Why are we not realizing Bhagavān?
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.❞ ..
Read Moreby 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 Moreby Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda
❝Service to the devotees promises more than service to the Lord Himself. The association of the bhaktas is even more beneficial than the association of the Lord. The living place of the bhakta, the abode of śrīla gurudeva, is more favourable for śuddha-bhajana (pure, loving devotional service) than the abode of the Lord.❞ ...
Read MoreSri Krsna Disguised as a Demigoddess
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Sri Krsna said, "Oh Devi, Oh You who are the most qualified girl in the three worlds, even including the Vaikuntha planets. Who in her right mind would dare to consider herself equal to You, for there is no one equal to You in this world...
Don't Hear From Them
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Srimati Radharani is prema-samput, the treasure-chest of love, and She is revealing Her heart to us by describing what is prema. Our guru-parampara has very mercifully collected all this, and they have opened their realizations to us. If any of us can get one drop of this mood, our lives will be successful...
The Disappearance of Sripad Svarupa Damodara Maharaja
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He was really a Vaisnava, even from his home-life. I have seen this in Sripad Gour Govinda Maharaja, and he was like this also. They are real Vaisnavas. They followed the principles of their Guru in the real sense. They never accepted what Iskcon is now propagating...
The 'Heavenly Damsel' Speaks
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Krsna as the heavenly damsel said, "Oh supremely beautiful Radha, I am actually from Svarga (the heavenly planets). I came here because I have a doubt about a certain subject, and apart from You, nobody in the entire world can completely fulfill My desire to have this doubt dispelled. That is why I have come down to this Earth planet...
The Real Reason
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Yesterday I explained the reasons why Krishna left Vraja and did not return after killing Kamsa; and why He did not even visit there from time to time. I explained why He did not bring the Vrajavasis to Mathura, as He had previously brought the Mathuravasis to Dvaraka-in a moment-during the night. You should know all this first, and then you will be able to taste why Krishna wanted to pacify the gopis...
The Love-Box
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By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga we are trying to explain the words of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his book called Prema-samput. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the combined form of Radha and Krsna, stayed for some time in the Gambhira and tasted many varieties of prema in the association of Srila Raya Ramananda and Srila Svarupa Damodara. Srila Rupa Gosvami wrote about some of these jewel-like varieties in his books, especially in Sri Ujjvala-nilamani...
It Will First Sprout For Gurudeva
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How will it be possible for a sadhaka (spiritual practitioner) to attain this possessiveness for Sri Krsna? It will first sprout for Srila Gurudeva, the asraya or associate of Krsna. The sadhaka will feel, “He is my life and soul. He is more dear and intimate than my own soul.” Then, when that possessiveness for Gurudeva gradually matures, Gurudeva will personally transform it into possessiveness for Sri Krsna Himself...
Why Did Krishna Not Return?
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Krishna has left Vrindavana for Mathura. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained in his commentary that all the Vrajabasis, especially the gopas and gopis, and Krishna's father and mother, are feeling so much separation that is beyond the limit of explanation. It is said that the Vrajabasis sent a swan as a messenger to Mathura, and the Puranas say that they sent many messengers; but Srimad Bhagavatam has not told so...
Vow to Please Sri Radha
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Urja means power. Srimati Radhika is the Urja-sakti, power, of Krsna. Urja-vrata (vrata means vow) means Radha-vrata. Although we regularly recite Sri Damodara-astakam in the morning and evening, we must keep in mind that this is Sri Radha-vrata. We are attending classes – to please Srimati Radhika. Both in the morning and evening we will sing kirtanas of Radhika, and we will also visit the places of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna’s pastimes – we will go everywhere in Vraja Mandala.
Krishna And Gurukula
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The evening after Krishna killed Kamsa and made Ugrasena king, He and Baladeva met Nanda Baba and tried to satisfy him. Krishna and Baladeva went to Vrindavana in one prakasa and in another stayed in Mathura. In one prakasa Nanda Baba went to Vrindavana alone and was very sad. He was weeping bitterly and feeling so much separation. In another prakasa Krishna returned and played...
To Be One-Pointed
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There was a gopi, and at first she had had no association of Krsna's beloved gopis. Although she was a gopi, she had not seen Krsna nor did she know anything about Him. She was newly married, and by chance her marriage was performed in Yavata. She had recently come to her father-in-law's house, and there she met Visakha, Kundalata, and other gopis...
The Tears Of Krishna, Balarama, And Nanda Baba
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Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is asking, "Is it impossible that Krishna and Balarama and the Vrajavasis can take more than one form?" He is also answering his own question. During Rasa-lila Krishna took millions of forms and danced between millions of gopis. If he does so in Vrindavana, then what to speak of Dvaraka?
Krishna Kills Kamsa
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This is Kamsa Tila, the place where Krsna killed Kamsa. Tila mean hill, and it was upon this hill that Kamsa was sitting when Krsna pulled him from his dias. Our temple, Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, is situated in part of Kamsa's wrestling arena, and it is also where Krsna and Balarama killed the elephant demon...
More Humble Than A Straw
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We want to do bhajana, but at the moment we are doing bhajana of nama-aparadha, and sometimes of nama-abhasa. We cannot do bhajana because we neglect the importance of this third verse of Sri Siksastaka, beginning with trnad api sunicena. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila 17.32), Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says: "I am raising my hand and taking a vow. Please listen, all devotees; hear this: if you want to do bhajana, then make a garland with the thread of nama and the jewels of trnad api sunicena."
How To Follow
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Even if you are very busy at that time, always try to engage your mind in Krishna. Try to have a siksa-guru, keep your heart with that siksa-guru, and ask him or her questions. I will also help, but sometimes I may not be physically available. There are many qualified devotees here who can help you...
Srila Prabhupada's Legacy
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I have realized from my experience that if we are not independent, but rather meet and preach together, then we will be successful. Mahaprabhu has told, "Prithivite ache yata nagaradi gram. Sarvatra pracar haibe more nama". "All over the earth, in every town and village, my Name should be preached". There is a great possibility to fulfill the transcendental desire of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu...