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.❞ ..
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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 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 MoreIf Someone Urinates On You
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Be enthusiastic at the time of hearing, remembering, serving the Lord’s lotus feet (pada sevanam) and worship of the Deity form of the Lord (arcanam). Cooking is also arcanam – don’t be neutral at any time. This is the symptom of bhakti. If one has bhakti, one is enthusiastic to first please guru and to then please Sri Krsna. How will we know that guru is happy with my activities?
Go to Guru At Once
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Hearing this pastime someone may think, “Mother Yasoda is controlling Sri Krsna in such a wonderful way. I also want Krsna as my son. I also want to control Him.” Mother Yasoda is a ragatmika-parikara, an eternal associate of Krsna, and those who want to be like her are called raganuga...
Nirjala Ekadasi and other topics
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The Pandavas used to observe Nirjala Ekadasi on every Ekadasi. Once, Bhima told Krsna, "It is not possible for me to fully fast every time. Krsna replied, "On all other Ekadasis you can take fruits and roots, but you must follow Nirjala on this particular Ekadasi...
Disappearance of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana
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My supremely worshipable Gurudeva nitya-lila-pravista om visnupada astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja demonstrated his veneration for Sri Gaudiya Vedanta and for sri-gaudiya-vedantacarya Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu by using Prabhu’s name in establishing the society ‘Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti’ and also in awarding his sannyasa disciples the title ‘Sri Bhaktivedanta.’
Don't Be Proud Of Your Intelligence
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Service requires a special relation. Now our goal is not fixed. What is our goal? "I should serve Krishna. I am an eternal servant of Krishna". But what kind of servant are you? This goal must be fixed, and it will come if you are initiated in the true sense; not only by fire sacrifice or when the guru changes your name. Simply that will not do...
What Are You Doing, My Brothers, My Sisters?
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Yesterday the subject was very high, but for preachers it is essential to know. If anyone does not know all philosophical conclusions (siddhanta), he cannot be strong. At any time he may fall down...
How to Fulfill All Your Desires
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If anyone takes part in the Govardhana-annukuta festival, and makes any preparation or even gives one grain, that person will never have to beg. Laksmi, the Goddess of Fortune herself, may have to beg, but that person will never have to beg. You can perform this worship even in your house. Today we are doing it here because I am here..
Not a Laughing Matter
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We have been discussing the conditioned soul. We have explained how you came under the control of maya, and how you can become liberated and serve the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. We have been explaining this for two days...
As an Intimate Friend
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Still, the ‘girl’ was grave and did not say anything. Srimati Radhika then said, “Perhaps you have a headache or some pain in your body, and that is why you are not speaking. My father has given me some good maha-narayana massage oil. It can cure anyone...
A New Topic
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This is my tenth visit to Badger. Each year I travel around the world and remind everyone about krsna-bhajana. I encourage the devotees not to be weak. I tell them to be strong in bhakti...
This Will Be Enough For You
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I am explaining to you the commentary of the first verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, as Sri Svarupa Damodara explained it to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura...
You, 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...
