Glorification of Sri Sita-Rama
- Details
Janaka Maharaja had given the definition of bhakti to Lord Rama’s brother, Bharata. "Anyabhilasita-sunyam, jnana-karmady-anavrtam, anukulyana krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama. One who has no other desire than to please Krsna, and who is not influenced by the process of jnana-marga (cultivation of knowledge) karma, and so on, is situated in pure bhakti.” The king told him that nothing can control prema (pure love of God); it has its own law. One who has prema will always consider the desires of his object of love. He has no personal interest. He will always think, "How will my beloved be pleased?" Our real purpose is to please our worshipful deity, God and Guru; not to please ourselves."
Rama-navami in Mathura
- Details
Rama-katha is endless. Sankarsana (Lord Anantadeva) himself continuously sings the glories of Sri Rama, but even with unlimited mouths he is unable to touch the end in any way. We can just relish, and pray that these infinite pastimes may appear in our heart. Tulasi dasa has written Rama-caritra-manasa, which is based on Sri Valmiki's Ramayana. All the pastimes written by Tulasi dasa come from the Ramayana and other Puranas, but the principles of bhakti that he gave there have been taken from Srimad-Bhagavatam. He presented important selected verses, especially from the eleventh canto, and translated them into Hindi poetry.
The Glories of Hanuman
- Details
Now we are coming to our subject - where we left off in Badger. Why do we prefer Ambarisa Maharaja over Prahlada Maharaja? Prahlada Maharaja is a siddha-bhakta and parama-mahabhagavata (a perfected devotee situated at the stage of prema, love of God), and Ambarisa Maharaja is a sadhaka-bhakta (a practitioner at the stage of bhava-bhakti) So why do we want to follow Ambarisa Maharaja?
God in Book Form
- Details
In our brahma-gayatri and in all our gayatri mantras, the word "pracodayat" occurs. "Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat." "Tan no gaurah pracodayat." We are in the disciplic line from Srila Vyasadeva. If you are like Srila Vyasadeva, with no worldly desires at all, then "evam prasanna manasah" – you will be happy by body, mind and soul; you will be able to have the darsana of Lord Krsna. You will see Him face to face, and you will see His sweet pastimes, from beginning to end...
A Loving Darsana in the Corridor
- Details
We should practice that yoga which is favorable, and we should reject that yoga which is not favorable. Vyasadeva was also a yogi and so many maharsis and rsis were yogis, but they were not patanjali yogis; they were bhakti-yogis. Bhakti-yoga is very easy...
Inconceivable Jiva-Tattva
- Details
It is not that everything can be compared in every respect, so there are only some similarities in this analogy. Not everything is similar. For example, the seed of a tree is not cetana (conscious, or alive), but atma, the soul, is cetana. Maya is not present in the atma. There are no clouds in the sun; but they are outside of the sun. We see the clouds, but those who are above the clouds are always seeing the sun; they do not see clouds. Similarly, self-realized souls like Sri Narada Rsi can see that we are always serving, even though we are conditioned souls...
Opening Words
- Details
Try to realize the writings of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is called Saptama Gosvami – the Seventh Gosvami. He has written so many books. We should especially read his Jaiva Dharma. Whatever he wrote was personally realized by him...
Sri Ramanujacarya
- Details
Today is the avirbhava, birthday, of Sri Ramanujacarya. Rama-Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama, is also coming very soon, Throughout Their entire lives, Rama and Sita-devi always had problems, even though Rama is God and Sita-devi is his svarupa-sakti, internal potency. They showed by example that in this world, even if you are a king and have a very strong personality, you will still have to suffer...
Sri Ramanujacarya's Appearance Day
- Details
Sri Ramanujacarya is an incarnation of Laksmana (Lord Rama's younger brother), and he accepted the Sri Sampradaya. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada took many teachings from him, such as the duties of sannyasis, the duties of disciples, and the etiquette of the Vaisnava. He utilized 108 teachings. We follow these teachings, and we have also published them in our Bhagavata Patrika and Gaudiya Patrika...
Govardhana Walks - March 19-20, 2010
- Details
You will hear their katha, and you will follow them. Then you will come at the time of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and others. Then, gradually, you will come to Mahaprabhu. In this way, when you will reach up to Mahaprabhu, you will have svarupa-siddhi...
The Soul of Book Distribution
- Details
Srila Srila Gurudeva, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, has translated, written, and published so many authoritative, awe-inspiring, and soul-transformational literatures. The Soul of Book Distribution is another awe-inspiring book. It has excerpts from his lectures, letters, and darsans, regarding the propagating all His other books...
Who Can Show Mercy?
- Details
A kanistha devotee will say, "Oh, he's Guru. Come; I'll take you to him." He is like a vartma-pradarsaka guru (the guru who shows the way). A madhyama-adhikari will help others by his hari-katha. He has four duties. He can help more than the siddha...
How to approach Krsna-lila
- Details
Manah Siksa and the section about 'Anartha-nivrtti' from Madhurya Kadambini - understand these very thoroughly. After this, when lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and envy will go away then one will not commit offences to the holy name, Vaisnavas, while doing seva, etc. Only then can one enter the pastimes of Mahaprabhu. And after entering the pastimes of Mahaprabhu, then entry into the pastimes of Krsna will be possible.
Sadhana and Mercy: The Two Keys to Krishna’s Darshan
- Details
We should try our best to please Krsna. Seeing our sincere efforts, Krsna will be merciful at once and He will be controlled—otherwise not. Krsna saw how Mother Yasoda was about to cry. Her face became reddish by her efforts to bind Him...
Transcendental Vaiṣṇavas – Non-different in Body and Soul
- Details
by Śrīla Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja
Whatever we know about birth and death in this world does not apply to Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. In fact, instead of saying ‘birth’ and ‘death’, the Vaiṣṇavas use the terms āvirbhāva and tirobhāva, ‘appearance’ and ‘disappearance’, prakaṭa and aprakaṭa, ‘manifested’ and ‘un-manifested’, and so forth...
The Glories Of Srivasa Pandita
- Details
Vamsi dasa Babaji was always in a mood of intimacy with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You, on the other hand, are always engaged in maintaining your life. Sometimes business is very good, and you think, "Oh, this is very good." And sometimes it is down and you think, "What to do? What to do? What to do?" You forget to chant and you forget to worship.
Page 6 of 48