Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.27–45

An excerpt from Srimad Bhagavatam (11.19.27–45) in which Lord Krishna answers Uddhava’s questions about seeing the world in the proper way.

Srimad Bhagavatam

Q: What is dharma?

A: That which produces devotion to Me.

Q: What is knowledge (jnan)?

A: Seeing the presence of the Supersoul.

Q: What is detachment (vairagya)?

A: Disinterest in the sense objects.

Q: What is equanimity (sama)?

A: Being intent upon Me (not simply peace of mind).

Q: What is discipline (dama)?

A: Control of the senses (not control over others).

Q: What is tolerance (titiksa)?

A: Enduring suffering (as prescribed by the scriptures or as inflicted by disrespectful persons; not a foolish self-induced attempt to endure heat or cold).

Q: What is steadiness (dhrti)?

A: Mastery of the tongue and genitals (other types of steadiness are useless without this).

Q: What is the greatest charity (dana)?

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Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.8

Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj

तत्तेऽनुकम्पां सुसमीक्षमाणो
भुञ्जान एवात्मकृतं विपाकम् ।
हृद्वाग्वपुर्भिर्विदधन्नमस्ते
जीवेत यो मुक्तिपदे स दायभाक् ॥ ८ ॥

tat te’ nukampam susamiksamano
bhunjana evatma-kritam vipakam
hrid-vag-vapurbhir vidhan namas te
jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak

My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

SB 10:14:8

Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Rarhak Sridhar Maharaj) quotes SB 10:14:8 and says,

With the help of the Guru, the Sastra, and the previously experienced persons, I shall try to stand the test, that, “Yes, because the bile is so, everything is tasting bitter. But this process will remove the bile. I shall have to wait for some time, and when the bile is gone, I shall taste sugar candy as sweet.”

The Three-fold Miseries of life

Adhyatmika: miseries coming from one’s own body and mind

( aching bones, rotting teeth, headaches, worry and stress.)

Adhibahutika: miseries coming from other living beings

( mosquitoes, envious people, vicious dogs, etc. )

Adhidaivika: miseries coming from nature / demigods

( earthquake, famine, extreme weather conditions, etc. )

Seeing how these four limiting factors of the material world create suffering for the living entity is an item of knowledge listed in Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12

It takes a little contemplation and discussion to grasp. We usually forget the suffering of birth, and while we are young and healthy, old age, disease, and death seem distant and irrelevant.

 

 

Birth, Disease, Old age and Death
Therefore the Vedas ( Bhagavatam ) attempts to awaken us.

  • * Consider the suffering the child goes through at birth.
  • * The disease is a misery that repeatedly arises throughout life. See how many different kinds of disease and affliction you can think of.
  • * Consider also the disturbing symptoms of old age.
  • * Lord Kapila describes ( SB 3.30 ) the typical miseries surrounding the death.
  • * Old age, severe disease, and death are bad enough in themselves but they also cause pain to loved ones who see the suffering condition.

Hmmmmmmm.. something to think about..

The material nature provides the living entity with much more opportunity to suffer than to enjoy. For example, how many ways can you give pain to your foot compared with how many ways you can give it pleasure?

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Oh, when will that day come?

Srila Bhaktivionda Thakur

Srila Bhaktivionda Thakur

Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German and American people will take up banners, mrdangas, and kartalas and raise kirtana through their streets and towns.

When will that day come?

Oh for the day when the fair-skinned men from their side will raise up the chanting of

‘jaya sacinandana, jaya sacinandana, kijaya’

and join with the Bengali devotees.

When will that day be?

On such a day they will say, “Our dear Brothers, we have taken shelter of the ocean of Lord Caitanya’s Love; kindly embrace us”.
that day will witness the holy transcendental ecstasy of the Vaisnava dharma to be the only dharma, and all sects and religions will flow like rivers into the ocean of Vaisnava dharma.

Oh, when will that day come?

Oh, when will that day come, when pure and transcendental Vaisnava prema will be the only religion of all souls and all tiny sectarian religions will meet in the unlimited and universal religion of Vaisnavism as rivers merge into the great ocean?
O when will that day come?

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Glory of Sri Nabadwip Dham

Glory of Sri Nabadwip Dham – Quotes

“I offer one prayer at the feet of all Vaisnavas.
O Vaisnavas, let my connection with Sri Chaitanya become firm.
By your mercy, allow me to become a resident of Nabadwip-dham.
This is my only request.”

“I am an evil worm in the hole of materialism, devoid of devotion, filled with lust, and insane with anger.
If you are not kind upon me, how can an evil servant of maya like me have any connection with Sri Chaitanya?”

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Master and protector of all Gaudiya Vaishnavs


গৌরাঙ্গৈক-গতির্ব্রজাশ্রিতমতিঃ শ্রীগৌরধামস্থিতিঃ
সচ্ছাস্ত্রৈকবৃতিঃ কুসঙ্গবিরতির্দুঃস্থব্যথা-নিষ্কৃতিঃ ।
শ্রীরূপৈকরতিঃ সনাতন-নতিঃ শ্রীজীবতেজস্ততিঃ
শ্রীসিদ্ধান্তসরস্বতী বিজয়তে গৌড়ীয়-গোষ্ঠীপতিঃ ॥

gaurangaika-gatir-vraja-asrita-matih sri-gaura-dhama-sthitih
sachchhastraika-vrtih kusanga-viratir-duhstha-vyatha-niskrtih
sri-rupaika-ratih sanatana-natih sri-jiva-tejas-tatih
sri-siddhanta-sarasvati vijayate gaudiya-gosthi-patih

“You reside at Sri Gaura Dham, the abode of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, who is the only path for those who want to take shelter in Sri Vraja Dham. By the exclusive conclusions of the pure devotional scriptures, you put an end to all bad associations, removing all misery and pain. You are attached to Srila Rupa Goswami, subservient to Srila Sanatana Goswami, and emanate the luster of Srila Jiva Goswami. All glory to you, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, the master and protector of all Gaudiya Vaishnavs.”

গৌড়ে গাঙ্গতটে নবব্রজ-নবদ্বীপে তু মায়াপুরে
শ্রীচৈতন্যমঠ-প্রকাশকবরো জীবৈক-কল্যাণধীঃ ।
শ্রীসিদ্ধান্তসরস্বতীতি-বিদিতো গৌড়ীয়-গুর্ব্বন্বয়ে
ভাতো ভানুরিব প্রভাতগগনে রূপানুগৈঃ পূজিতঃ ॥

gaude ganga-tate nava-vraja-navadvipe tu mayapure
sri-chaitanya-math-prakasaka-varo jivaika-kalyanadhih
sri-siddhanta-sarasvatiti-vidito gaudiya-gurvanvaye
bhato bhanuriva prabhato-gagane rupanugaih pujitah

“You have manifested Sri Chaitanya Math in the land of Gauda, on the bank of the Ganges, in Mayapur that stands in Nabadwip, non-different from Sri Vraja. Renowned among great Gaudiya Vaisnava teachers as Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, you have appeared like a radiant sun rising in the morning sky and you are worshippable to all followers of Sri Rupa Goswami.”

This slokas by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj