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 MoreA Report for Janmastami and Nandotsava
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For several days leading up to the Appearance Day of Bhagavan Sri Krsna, thousands of sadhus and pilgrims were finding their way to Mathura Dhama to observe the Janmastami-vrata (vow), to have darsan of Kamsa's Dungeon where Vasudeva Krsna appeared 5000 years ago, to bathe in the sacred Yamuna, and to perform parikrama of the many significant tirthas in and around Mathura. By the causeless mercy of...
Sri Krsna Janmastami
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Every verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam is also a mantra, and one can attain siddhi (perfection) from each of them. These verses can fulfill even the topmost desire, but unfortunately we have no faith in this. We are chanting the maha-mantra and we have no faith in it; but this and all other mantras are truly kalpa-vrksa, desire trees. Every sloka of Srimad-Bhagavatam is like the kama-dhenus (the cows of Goloka Vrndavana, who can fulfill all of one's desires). Not only one kama-dhenu – each sloka can be compared to millions of kama-dhenus...
Janmastami Glorification Of Sri Radha
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Sri Jayadeva Gosvami's kirtana, Sri Mangala-Gitam, glorifies Bhagavan Sri Krsna, but moreover it indicates the glories of Srimati Radhika. This is because Lord Krsna's highest glories are not manifest without His being in Her association...
A Report On Janmastami Celebrations
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If you will please Krsna, He will give you this wealth. Today you must not criticize any Vaisnava even if his behavior is rude or bad -- Krsna will punish him Himself. Do not make fun of Vaisnavas. Always remain in such sat-sanga where you get such teachings. Today in Kali-yuga a pure Vaisnava guru and disciple is very hard to find. If you are not following the bhajana of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada then how will you do bhajana?
Srimati Radharani Blames Krsna
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Srimati Radhika is the crest-jewel of Krsna's beloveds, and She is now speaking citra-jalpa. Within citra-jalpa, She is speaking kataksa, sarcasm, as She criticizes the ladies of Mathura. Sent by Krsna to Vrndavana from Mathura, Uddhava witnesses Her madness in separation, and, kneeling at a distance, he thinks...
Krsna Reciprocates
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Of all types of separation, which is the most painful? It is the separation from Vaisnavas. We know that the jiva has no birth or death, but we can feel separation for the Vaisnava. Who will feel separation? Only the person who has mamata, a sense of "mine-ness" towards that Vrndavana, or one who can understand the greatness of that Vaisnava...
Separation Is Such A Thing
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Sri Uddhava related to Narada Muni how he went to Vrndavana and saw how, in separation from Lord Krsna, the Vrajavasis meet with Him internally. Externally this separation seems like a bitter type of unhappiness, but knowers of the truth understand it to be actually a type of great happiness...
Sri Uddhava's Guru Rsi Narada
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After arriving in Dvaraka in an ecstatic and maddened state, Sri Narada Muni made his way into the wonderfully opulent palace of Srimati Rukmini devi, to the entrance of her room, where he saw an astonishing sight. A large crowd had gathered there, including Srimati Rohini-maiya, Rukmini devi and Krsna's other queens, their maidservants, and Sri Uddhava. Everyone there was concerned and upset because, although it was late in the morning, Lord Krsna was still sleeping in His bed...
Sri Narada Muni's ecstacy
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Sometimes it is seen that the gopis or exalted Vaisnavas fall to the ground and become unconscious; but their unconsciousness is not like ours, or that of munis or other types of so-called sadhus. When munis enter their samadhi, they forget everything - this world and themselves. But when the gopis or the Vaisnavas go into samadhi, they deeply remember the names, form, qualities and pastimes of Bhagavan Sri Krsna. A kanistha-adhikari cannot understand this...
Vrndavana Is Made Of Srimati Radhika
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Vrndavana is Radhamayi. It is made of Srimati Radhika, and everyone there is bhava-vibhor, lost in transcendental sentiments. The devotees here have just sung a bhajana in which they prayed, "I don't want to leave Vrndavana", and the main cause of that prayer is the variagated moods of Radhika and their depth of absorption. When Uddhava saw the moods of Radhika at Uddhava-kyeri, he became stunned like a wooden doll...
Glorification a Few Days Later
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Everyday we should look in our own hearts, to see how much we are following Srila Rupa Gosvami. We should think, "If I am not following Srila Rupa Gosvami then I should die. There is no purpose to my life...
Baladeva's Birthday
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Today is the appearance day of Rohini-nandana Baladeva. According to the Vedic scripture Garga-samhita, Baladeva Prabhu appeared after Janmastami, but if this is accepted, there would be confusion. Baladeva would be older than Krsna by one year, and then they would not be able to play together, wrestle on equal terms, and have Their name giving ceremony performed for both of them at the same time...
Sri Baladeva Is Guru
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Lord Sri Krsna appeared as Sri Baladeva Prabhu, to give instructions on how to serve Himself. As one may massage his feet by his own hands, so Baladeva is Krsna Himself, in the form of the supreme Guru, to teach others how to serve His lotus feet. They are one, but there is a slight difference in their forms; Krsna is black and Baladeva is white, and Krsna carries a flute whereas Baladeva carries a buffalo horn. Because Baladeva teaches service to Krsna, he is called akanda-guru-tattva, the complete and undivided principle of Guru...
Lord Baladeva's Appearance Day
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You know the pastime of Sri Baladeva's killing Romaharsana Suta, but do you know why He did it? The fact is that this Romaharsana Suta never honored any devotees. He thought, "I am supreme of all. I am guru of all the 88 thousand rsis assembled here....
Our relationship with Balarama
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Today is a very auspicious day because two very sacred tithis (days) have met together: Purnima, and the Appearance Day of Baladeva. Today also ends Jhulana Yatra, which has been going on for one month since the beginning of this sravana month. At the end of Jhulan Yatra all Vrajabasis are very sad, and therefore Baladeva Prabhu appears on this day and makes them happy...
Sri Rupa Gosavami, & Sri Baladeva's Appearance
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Many people have spoken tonight about Srila Rupa Gosvami. Even if Anantadeva (the many-thousand-headed serpent who holds the universes on his hoods) speaks for thousands of years with his thousands of mouths, he will not be able to complete the topic of Rupa Gosvami...
