Whom to Follow and How Much to Follow Them - part 2
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We began from sraddha. We told so much hari-katha, and the essence of all is found here - that our object is to serve Srimati Radhika. We should begin practicing bhakti from the smallest fraction, from sraddha, and that practice is called vaidhi-bhakti. Then we should gradually go up. When you develop a real taste for bhakti, you will not fall down, and if you have no taste, oh, you are already fallen. There is no further down to fall...
Whom To Follow And How Much To Follow Them
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It does not matter if you do tapasya, if you execute household life perfectly, if you are a brahmacari or if you take vanaprastha or sannyasa. It doesn't matter if you stay submerged in the water in the cold winter, or if you sit in the blazing sun in the summer. All these things will not make any difference in understanding the actual situation of the Absolute Truth, the living entity, and his relationship with that Absolute Truth. Only by associating with a maha-bhagavata (a great soul), will you realize these things. This is the essence of this instruction...
Why Did Sri Krsna Come? (part 2)
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For the benefit of those who do not know about spiritual life full with Vedic wisdom, Srila Vyasadeva wrote down what he saw in his trance. First he wrote the four essential verses (catuh-sloki) of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Lord Narayana had spoken it to Brahma, Brahma then spoke it to Narada, and then Narada elaborated upon it.
Vaidhi-bhakti or Raganuga-bhakti?
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The meaning of this sloka is that in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sampradaya the practices of vaidhi-bhakti take one to raganuga.
It is not raganuga at first. It begins from vaidhi-bhakti. If one in the line of Srila Rupa Gosvami follows vaidhi-bhakti, that vaidhi-bhakti is really the beginning of raganuga.
The History of Sri Giriraja-Govardhana
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I will speak on one history of Giriraja-Govardhana. Giriraja was in the Himalayas. He is the son of Drona. Drona is one of the friends of Himalaya. He had a beautiful son and his name was Giriraja. Though he was little, he was so beautiful. He was decorated by Tamala trees, Kadamba trees, cuckoos, parrots, and everything else. He was loved so much by his father. When anyone would see Giriraja-Govardhana, they would become so attracted to him...
Is Guru Really Omniscient?
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Especially, I have instructed the brahmacaris and sannyasis to be very careful. There is no more to tell than what I have told in Badger. Even those who are householders should try to come out from that burning well. Don't again try to enter household life. But hardly anyone is listening to me, so what can I do? This is maya.
Everything is meant only for Krsna Consciousness
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So, every quality can be used in the service of Krsna. If skills and talents are used in this way, that is very good; they must not be used for sense gratification. At the same time, let us also consider this fact: Srila Sanatana Gosvami had a touchstone. He never used it for himself, and in fact he never used it at all...
Srivasa Pandita’s Disappearance Day
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Some of the neighbors complained about Srivasa to the Muslim Kazi. They told him "He thinks he is better than Muslims because he is a Hindu. He is a culprit. If he and the other Hindus have to sing so loudly, it must mean that their God is blind and deaf; He cannot hear well. They spend their entire nights creating disturbances. We cannot sleep. What should we do?"...
Mahaprabhu Was Also Very Strict
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If you want to love and honor Caitanya Mahaprabhu and you want His mercy to come to you, always remember the pastime of Caitanya Mahaprabhu banishing Chota Haridasa. Do you know that history? You should speak something about it in brief...
Initiations and Other Topics
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Somebody may say that because in some societies there are no high-class Vaisnavas, there is a need for kanisthas to give initiation...
Two Questions
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It is very hard to utter Sri Krsna’s name at the time of death. At that time one’s throat will be choked up. You should speak hari-katha to that person, and chant Lord Sri Krsna's name: “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” If you cannot do this, then chant: “Krsna, Radhe, Rama...
Be Very Careful About This
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Nowadays, especially in European countries and in Russia, devotees think they are very 'rasika'. *[See Endnote 2]. They want rasa (the taste of spiritual mellows). They want to go up to the top of the tree of prema at once. They only want madanakhya-bhava (the highest ecstatic devotional love, situated only in Srimati Radhika). They do not want to follow vaidhi-bhakti. They don't like vaidhi-bhakti.
If We Want to Read Prabhupada's Books
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You know that Lord Rama loves His wife, Sita. You know how He loves Sabari, a very low-born lady. He even ate Sabari's food remnants. You know that Krsna took His flute and peacock feather and placed them at Srimati Radhika's lotus feet, saying, "I will not be able to repay you, even if I live for millions of years...
The Bird in the Sage - Part One
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A drunkard might think he has become greatly happy by drinking vast quantities of wine, but actually he is not happy. One who eats the flesh of cows and thinks that he is very happy, is not happy. Such persons are deluded. They don't know what will be the effect of doing such things. So the sages asked, "Please tell us the essence of all the scriptures, by knowing which our soul will be happy...
Levels of Devotion - continued
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Try to be like Pariksit Maharaja, who was cursed to die after seven days. He forgot to take any prasadam, and he did not even drink any water during that seven-day period. He did not sleep at all, for he was engaged day and night in hearing Hari-katha. Then, after seven days he left his body without any suffering and went to Goloka Vrndavana. Try to hear with the same absorption as Pariksit Maharaja...
Honoring The Vaisnava
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What is the proper way to utter the name of your gurudeva? If you are offering pranama to him, should you hold your hand in your japa bag and say, "Namah om visnupadaya krsna presthaya bhutale sri srimad bhakti prajnana kesava gosvami iti namine"? What is the proper etiquette? Among the sixty-four limbs of bhakti, the first ten are for guru. Do you remember what they are?
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