Divine Words of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
“One who is sincere to dedicate himself naturally comes into contact with a higher and more subtle plane of life. By his readiness to give and serve, he will attain to a higher society and achieve an appropriate master.”
—Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Divine Words of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami
Learning the Gift of Giving Yourself
We must be very, very careful when we follow the highest object of our eternal life. Our Guru Mahārāja gave a special warning – “sevonmukhe”. We were not allowed to read much – even these ordinary subjects dealing with sādhana, devotional practices – what to speak of the higher literatures. But we were encouraged by “śravanaṁ-kīrtanam,” hearing from the real source and acting accordingly. In this way, by serving, learn to give yourself properly. There are different methods of service: śravanam, hearing; kīrtanam, chanting; smaranam, remembering; and vandanam, praying, etc. Then, Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī has mentioned sixty-four kinds of devotional practices and it is further mentioned – a thousand kinds of devotional practices
[see Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu].
The Key to the Hidden Treasure
Work Under the Guidance of a Vaishnava
But practices are not very important. The very life of the practice is all-important and that is self-dedication, self-giving. So, be very particular to learn dedication and self-giving. This means practically to work under the guidance of a Vaiṣṇava devotee – getting ready to work under a proper agent. This will help you a great deal to learn, to practice what is dedication to that Sweet Lord. Guidance must come from those above you. It is very rare, but it is most valuable to us. Whatever directions are coming from above, we must selflessly embrace that as all in all. This is the clue; this is the key to the Hidden Treasures in your heart. I will not work with my whims or serve men on my level. But we shall very eagerly obey what directions will come from the above plane. This is service proper and it will be a real help for progressing on the path of dedication and self-giving.
Song Name: Kabe Mui Vaisnava Cinibo
Official Name: Ucchvasa: Prarthana Lalasmayi Song
Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Book Name: Kalyana Kalpataru
Language: Bengali
(1)
kabe mui vaisnava cinibo hari hari
vaisnava carana, kalyaner khani,
matibo hrdaye dhori’
1) Oh Hari, when will I be able to recognize a Vaishnava
The feet of the Vaisnava is the source of auspiciousness
Keeping those feet on my very heart I will be fully ecstatic
(2)
baisnava-thakura aprakrta sada,
nirdosa, anandamoy
krsna-name priti jade udasina,
jibete dayardra hoy
2) The venerable Vaishnava is always transcendental
He is innocent and joyous He feels pleasure in chanting the name of Krishna, at the same time he is oblivious to the material world He is deeply compassionate to the living entities
Divine Words of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami
We are finite beings that are lost here. We have a long journey ahead with much trouble, but the disappointment and dejection is minimized if we have good association on that long journey.
By talking with them about the Lord, we can go on. We forget the weariness of the journey.
krshna-bhakti-janma-müla haya ‘sådhu-sanga’
krshna-prema janme, teho punar mukhya anga
The root cause of devotion to Krshna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Krshna awakens, the association with devotees is still most essential.
(Cc. Madhya 22.83)
The very origin of devotion to Krshna comes from the association of the sådhu – krshna-prema janme, teho punar mukhya anga. And when we acquire a drop of divine love within our heart then also our hope, solace, consolation, health, everything comes from the association of the devotees. The devotees are all in all, from the beginning up to the end. Our favorable companions can help us in our journey towards the Infinite. They are something solid, something concrete – similar in nature to us.
यस्यास्ति भक्तिर्भगवत्यकिञ्चना
सर्वैर्गुणैस्तत्र समासते सुरा: ।
हरावभक्तस्य कुतो महद्गुणा
मनोरथेनासति धावतो बहि: ॥ १२ ॥
yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā
sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā
manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ
Synonyms
yasya — of whom; asti — there is; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; bhagavati — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akiñcanā — without any motive; sarvaiḥ — with all; guṇaiḥ — good qualities; tatra — there (in that person); samāsate — reside; surāḥ — all the demigods; harau — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhaktasya — of a person who is not devoted; kutaḥ — where; mahat-guṇāḥ — good qualities; manorathena — by mental speculation; asati — in the temporary material world; dhāvataḥ — who is running; bahiḥ — outside.
Translation
All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord’s external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?
Divine Words of The Guardian of Devotion
“Do not desire any position or prestige for yourself, and always be ready to give it to others,” means, “Try to feel your insignificant character.” If you can do so you will be able to draw the attention of the higher. If you feel yourself to be poor as anything, to be the poorest of the poor, then you will be able to draw the attention of the Supreme towards you.
“I am needy. I am the most needy.” First, feel yourself to be this, then put forward a petition. “I am the most need of Your grace, my Lord.” It is a simple thing. “I am the most needy, the most desolate. Please help me.” It is a simple attitude. Surrender is real and practical. Otherwise, it is only limited hypocrisy. He is omniscient. He sees everything, even the subtlest things. He can see what is within us. He can see within us what we cannot see. It is not very easy to acquire the qualification necessary to approach the Absolute.”
– Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāja
His Divine Grace Gaudiya Gosthipati Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupad
It is better not to talk about people belonging to useless, unauthorized sampradyas. You should continue chanting the Holy names of Hari without offense, avoid bad association, and read Sri Chaitanya – caritamrita, Prarthana, Kalyan Kalpataru, and Prema-bhakti-candrika. This will certainly benefit you.
Blasphemy of others should be rejected.
Krishnanagar, Nadia, June 2,1918
ambhodhih sthalatam sthalam jaladhitam dhuli-lavah shailatam
shailo mrit-kanatam trinam kulishatam vajram trina-kshinatam
vahnih shitalatam himam dahanatam ayati yasyecchaya
lila-durlalitadbhuta-vyasanine krishnaya tasmai namah
I offer my respectful obeisances to wonderful, playful, mischievous Krishna who, if He desires, can make an ocean dry land, dry land an ocean, a blade of grass a thunderbolt, a thunderbolt an insignificant blade of grass, fire cool, or snow a blazing fire.
Shri Krishnasya mahima – The Glory of Krishna
Sri Padyavali,Text 6
vyadhasyacaranam dhruvasya ca vayo vidya gajendrasya ka
kubjayah kim u nama rupam adhikam kim tat sudamno dhanam
vamsah ko vidurasya yadava-pater ugrasya kim paurusham
bhaktya tushyati kevalam na ca gunair bhakti-priyo madhava
Where were the hunter Dharma’s piety, Dhruva’s maturity, and Gajendra’s knowledge? Where was Kubja’s beauty?
Where was Sudama’s wealth? Where was Vidura’s noble birth? Where was Ugrasena’s chivalrous strength? Lord Madhava is pleased only by devotional service and not by material qualifications.
Bhajana-mahatmya The Glory of Devotional Service
Shri Dakshinatya Sri Padyavali, text 8
What are the characteristics of a person who has taken complete shelter of the holy names?
By misusing the six propensities of the heart (lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride, and envy) one commits sin. One who has taken complete shelter of the holy name does not commit sin.
He engages his lust in discussing topics about Krsna and maintaining his Vaisnava family based on service to Krsna.
He never engages in sinful activities, such as enjoying the wives of others, accumulating more money than he requires, desiring name and fame, cheating, or stealing. He uses his anger against those who are envious of Krsna and the Vaisnavas. In this way, he remains aloof from materialistic association. He avoids subduing and torturing others. Thus, his anger transforms into the tolerance of a tree.
He uses his greed to relish the mellows of ecstatic love for Krsna and thereby does not bother to eat palatable foodstuffs, wear opulent clothes, enjoy beautiful women, or accumulate unlimited wealth.
He uses illusion in experiencing transcendental mellows and thus becomes bewildered by the beauty of Krsna’s pastimes and the Vaisnavas’ characteristics. Wealth, followers, and material happiness do not enamor him. Not bewildered by their improper conclusion, such a person does not become involved in impersonalism, atheism, or false argument.
He engages pride in Krsna’s service and thus renounces the pride coming from high birth, wealth, beauty, education, followers, and bodily strength.
He totally renounces envy and violence toward others. By regulating his life in this way, he does not have the opportunity to commit sin. Rather, his propensity for sinful activities is uprooted. If, however, he accidentally commits a sin, it is nullified without his having to practice atonement.
Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani from Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava
(Sajjana Tosanl 8/9)
