Sri Gurvastakam
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Today I want to give an explanation of Sri Guru – what are the symptoms of a bona fide guru – and to show you examples that have been given in the epics [Vedic scriptures]. You can apply this to your own guru. Our Sri Guru is akanda-guru-tattva, Sri Baladeva Prabhu or Sri Nityananda Prabhu, so all teachings should be applied to him and to others who are following this...
Discussion On Sri Gurvastakam, 1-5
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Who has written this Gurv-astaka? Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. But he has taken the view of Srila Rupa Gsovmai, Srila Narottama Thakura, and he has explained all these things. Though he has written it for his gurudeva, but for akanda-guru-tattva he has written...
All My Daughters Should Preach
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I want that all my daughters and children should speak like this - very boldly - jumping like lions and roaring like lions on the head of an elephant. I don't want [now speaking in the tone of a shy kitty cat:] mew, mew, mew. You should be ready to preach my mission throughout the world. Begin from Australia and then everywhere. Then, someday, when you become expert, you should preach like lions - like me - everywhere...
They Accuse Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
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In a couple of years, by the grace of his Guru, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja preached the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami throughout the universe. He did this very quickly, especially by translating and writing books, and also by distributing books. Even those who never personally met him came to Iskcon, and to this line, only by his name, fame, and glory. I have also come here only by his grace..
The Inspiration Of Sri Govindadeva To Preach
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We should see that if we are hearing and yet our hearts are not melting, that is, even tears may come but the heart does not melt, then we should understand and realize this fact -- that we are high-class aparadhis. We have done aparadha and still we are doing aparadha. We should stop and regret deeply that, "I am an aparadhi." You should pray, "O Name, fie on me. You should be merciful to me." Only then will you realize something, and at that time your heart will be actually melted. This is the process...
Who Can Offer Bhoga To Krsna?
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I heard a question regarding a person who is not initiated, or a person who has only received first initiation (harinama). The question was asked, "Has such a person the right to make offerings to Krsna? What should he do?"
Suppose a person is not initiated at all, but he has faith and honor for Krsna and he knows that Krsna is Supreme Personality of Godhead. Or, he believes in...
The One Real Entity
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"Real objects have eternal existence. Unreal objects only have a semblance of existence; they sometimes exist and sometimes do not. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.2): ‘vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śivadaṁ. Only a truly abiding substance, that which is related to the Supreme Absolut Truth and yields supreme auspiciousness, is worthy of being known...
Branch Moon Logic
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We should know that any example or analogy of this world cannot fully explain the transcendental world. Some examples can give us an idea, like, "Krsna is beautiful and black, like a cloud or like a tamal tree." It is not possible, however, to totally describe the transcendental world by any mundane worldly examples. Examples are given to express some idea, but there is nothing in this world that can fully compare with Krsna. Someone may ask, "Can you tell me where is the moon?
Who Is The Better Devotee?
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Actually, it was the wish of Krsna that we should learn something from Bharata Maharaja. He himself did not actually fall down. When the stage of ruci manifests in ones heart he has no opportunity to commit any aparadha, what to speak of one who has rati. He was only teaching us that we ourselves should be careful...
Even Krsna Accepted A Guru
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Without accepting guru, the name one chants is not transcendental. That name will fulfill your worldly desires, even up to mukti (liberation), but not more than this. In the case of Ajamila, at first he had no guru. He named his son Narayana at the nama-samskara, the ritualistic ceremony in which babies are given their name. By chance...
Viraha-bhajana
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by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Narāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja
Those who remain under the shelter of śrī guru will experience intense waves of separation from him when he is no longer manifest, and those waves will surely increase to their utmost magnitude.
What Kind Of Devotee Is Dhruva Maharaja?
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There are many gradations of bhakti and bhaktas, as explained by Srila Sanatana Gosvami in his Brhat Bhagavatamrta. The first category is the sakama-bhakta, then the jnani-bhakta, then the suddha (pure) bhakta, the premi-bhakta, the premapara-bhakta, and finally the prematura-bhakta ...
Occasional Religion Should Melt Away
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This is our object as well, but as far as we are concerned, we waste so much of our time and energy in maintenance. Though we are devotees, our whole time is entangled and we have no time for remembering and chanting. We think, "If we give our whole time to devotional activities, our business will fail. How, then, will we be able to maintain ourselves?" We have no belief in Krsna, and we have no belief that He will continue our maintenance. He is the main root of our maintenance...
The Clear Path
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Always try to follow the teachings of the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and try to follow Srila Rupa Gosvami's Upadesamrta and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's Sri Manah-siksa. This is first. Then, try to gradually come to the stage of rati (bhava-bhakti), at which time all of Krsna's pastimes will automatically manifest in a very pure form. Try to follow these instructions. Go through the channel opened by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and by our guru-parampara, and especially by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami...
What If Guru Is Not Pure?
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If a guru is not serving his own gurudeva, he has left the process given by him, and his guru is not satisfied by his behavior - only in that case can we reject him. However, if the guru is a madhyama-adhikari and sincere, if he is very obedient and following the footsteps of his guru, then...
Today Is Guru Day
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Have you heard of Upamanyu? His guru once told him, "Oh, you go out to graze cows all day, and you do not bring with you anything to eat, and yet you are very healthy and fat. Why is that? Do you drink milk from the cows udders?" Upamanyu replied, "Yes I do." His guru told him, "Don't drink it anymore", but he did not tell him what he would be allowed to eat or drink. During the next days Upamanyu continued to go out...
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