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 More
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 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 MoreAny Questions?
- Details
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
- Details
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
- Details
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
- Details
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...
The Vrajavasis Never Know
- Details
In this process you should chant, remember, follow your Gurudeva and Vaisnavas, and remain in the association of self-realized devotees. This is the essence of all the teachings of Sri Rupa Gosvami...
A Morning Walk Conversation
- Details
Sri Rupa-manjari is in Krsna-lila and Srila Rupa Gosvami is in Caitanya-lila -- both forms are eternal and transcendental. If anyone wants to serve both, this will be very good. Otherwise, one can worship according to his own process of bhajana...
Organizing the World
- Details
When Lord Ramacandra returned from exile, He first went to Kaikeyi’s house. When he arrived there, he asked, “Where is Bharata? Up until now Bharata was with me, so where has he gone?” Someone said that Bharata did not want to see the face of his mother, Maharani Kaikeyi. He had broken his relation from Kaikeyi and determined, “I am not your son and you are not my mother. I will only call you Maharani Kaikeyi.” All the subjects of Ayodhya used to go to Bharata in Nandigrama and seek advice. So one day Kaikeyi went to him and said, “You are my son, so I want you to keep me here with you in Nandigrama...
The One-Day Program
- Details
We want to collect money and wealth, and we think that we cannot survive without it. This is wrong. ‘Nityartidena’ . You are very worried if you have no money or wealth, and if too much money comes, there will be quarrels. Others will shoot you and take that money from you...
More Than That Magician
- Details
Mahat sanga, the association of pure, exalted Vaisnavas is very rare - very rare - in this world. Even half a moment with him cannot be compared with the benefits of svarga (heaven), moksa (liberation) or any worldly achievement. It cannot compare with anything lower than Vaikuntha, what to speak of the attainment of an ordinary kingdom...
Morning Walk - Badger 2010
- Details
You should have full faith in Gurudeva. If one has no faith, he will not realize anything, and if one has full faith in Gurudeva, everything will be revealed...
How to Honor Prasadam
- Details
Generally, devotees chant without faith that the holy name can give them everything. Please realize this; Krsna's names can give anything. So, chant with great love, and with a sense of having the relation with Krsna that I have explained to you. Don't 'chant;' rather 'serve.' Do you eat prasadam? Never 'eat.' To consider that we are 'eating' prasadam is an offense. Can you eat Krsna? Similarly, don't 'chant' or 'utter' harinama. Rather, serve harinama...
The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura
- Details
Come with me to Jagannatha Puri, near to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes are more deep than the ocean, more deep than even thousands upon thousands of oceans. No ordinary person can understand the Lord's pastimes, and even most devotees cannot realize them...
No Separation Between Us
- Details
After hearing from the gopis, and especially after hearing Brahmara-gita from Srimati Radhika, Uddhava was astonished. He was especially astonished to hear and see Srimati Radhika's divyonmada, of which citra-jalpa is one of the features, and which is one of the symptoms of Her adhirudha-modana-mahabhava.
The Miracle of Mahat-sanga
- Details
If someone unknowingly mixes with a worldly person who has many desires for worldly sense gratification, he will be influenced by that person's qualities. Similarly, though not knowing the glorification of sadhu-sanga, if one associates with sadhus, his life will soon change...
Weeping in Separation
- Details
Krsna has now returned to Mathura from Sandipani Muni's gurukula. One day, having ascended to the roof of His palace in Mathura, He looked towards Vrndavana. Weeping, He was remembering past days, when He was in Vraja...
Developing Devotion
- Details
Where does uttama-bhakti begin? Its smallest fraction is called sraddha. Sraddha means the desire to serve Sri Krsna and Srimati Radhika, and this desire is the root of all devotion (bhakti) to the Supreme Lord. The symptoms of sraddha are faith in Guru's words, Vaisnava's words, Krsna's words, and words of the scriptures, especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam...
