The pastimes of Krishna, and things favorable for devotional service..
Because we will forget the Supreme Lord if we are satisfied with material happiness, the merciful Lord has created various dangers to test us. Happiness in this material world guarantees the forgetfulness of Krishna.
Hence, miseries are examples of His compassion.
Patramrita – Nectar from letters by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada
Peacefulness and tolerance are favorable for the execution of devotional service.
(Sri Purusottama Matha, Puri, February 5, 1935)
If devotion for the Supreme Lord is manifest then the living entities have no reason to be discontent. Due to our aversion to the Lord’s service, we are forced to enjoy the fruits of our karma. As a result of our deeds, sometimes we enjoy happiness and friendship, and sometimes we suffer distress and envy. If we feel the need for the Lord’s service then all kinds of distress and desires for material happiness cannot harm us.
If you constantly engage your mind in the Lord’s service then no one can harm you. If you are restless or dissatisfied with others then an inclination for the Lord’s service will not be present within your mind. Your words, body, and mind will form a mental displeasure that will not allow you to serve Hari. Therefore become tolerant like a tree, and by the Lord’s will stay at Samanta-pancaka. This will be beneficial for you. Wait for the day when Lord Gaura Hari will send you elsewhere.
Patramrita – Nectar from letters by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada
Devotee: Maharaj, I have one question. I am very much afraid to write anything about Krsna consciousness because I see that I am having so many material desires; but at the same time, when I go out and I speak to people about Krsna, and the sweetness of Krsna, I see how much they are enjoying that. So I am thinking, even though I have no qualification, I should continue to write or to preach. Is this correct?
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: It is laudable that you want to do good to others. Mahaprabhu has given general instruction:
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa
(Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 7:128)
“Wherever you go, whomever you meet, talk with them only about Krsna. Deliver this news to anyone and everyone, and the new light will come to you, which in turn you are to distribute to others. In this way you will have a dynamic and progressive life and there will be no shortage of higher backing. If you obey my command, then you will find that I am there, backing you in this work.”
SERVICE FOR KRISHNA
Service is nourishing. Service is not depleting; it is not killing. Therefore our attempt should not be so much for knowledge, for trying to know everything, but it should be directed towards how we can utilize ourselves in the highest function: service.
Service, service, service.
Don’t be afraid that service is depleting energy. Service is life-giving. It is feeding you properly.
Service!
— Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami
Devotee: When performing bhajan and kirtan, what should be our attitude?
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Meditation of a formal nature does not have much effect here. We shall try saranagati -surrender. Our whole attention should be concentrated on surrender. Once, a gentleman, a zamindar, took Harinama initiation from our Guru Maharaj and asked,
“While I count on the beads, what should I think of in my mind? Is there any portrait of Krsna or Sri Murti? How can I engage and utilize my mind at that time while counting the Beard?”
Our Guru Maharaj answered: „The mind has nothing to do in the supra-mental area. The mind is like a vulture. As a vulture goes to the cremation ground, so mind and other senses will try to fall there and make it mundane – a cremation ground. This is all mortal. They have got all mortal experience. The mind, the eye, the ear, etc. – everything has got mortal experience.“
So, whenever you take the Holy Name, the other senses, including the mind, will try to make it a mortal field with their prejudices and experiences of this relative world. They fall on it and make it a cremation ground. Do not allow it. Instead, we must try to understand.
na bhajati kumanīṣiṇāṁ sa ijyāṁ
harir adhanātma-dhana-priyo rasa-jñaḥ
śruta-dhana-kula-karmaṇāṁ madair ye
vidadhati pāpam akiñcaneṣu satsu
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes very dear to those devotees who have no material possessions but are fully happy in possessing the devotional service of the Lord.
Indeed, the Lord relishes the devotional activities of such devotees.
Those who are puffed up with material education, wealth, aristocracy and fruitive activity are very proud of possessing material things, and they often deride the devotees.
Even if such people offer the Lord worship, the Lord never accepts them.
(Nârada Instructs the Pracetâs)
Your mind is wandering all over the universe when you chant.
Chant anyway!
Your mind is wandering to the past and future when you chant.
Chant anyway!
You are not able to concentrate on Krsna’s names while you chant.
Chant anyway!
You have no taste for chanting.
Chant anyway!
You have lusty desires.
Chant anyway!
You are making offenses in chanting.
Chant anyway!
Divine words of Guardian of Devotion
‘O, Krishna, you may finish me, destroy me, efface me from the world, or you may save me by only a drop of your grace. I won’t search after my satisfaction in the mud. That is finished, I will never go back to search my fortune in the earth, in the mundane. I am already fixed to do or die. Either I must receive a drop of your grace, or you may finish me.
‘ In this way, Srila Rupa Goswami prays that Krishna’s mercy will descend like rain from the clouds, and not only quench his thirst, but bathe him, satisfy his utmost hankering, and fulfill his innermost necessity. So, we should never search for our fortune in the mud, we must always look to the high sky and pray for Sri Guru and his Grace.
(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj)
Five Prayers to Lord Narasimha by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in “Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga” for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Narasimha is purely in the line of aspiring love and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Those prayers are as follows.
e dusta hrdaye kama adi ripu chaya
kutinati pratisthasa sathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhana ara krsnera vasana
nrsimha-carane mora ei to’ kamana
Within my sinful heart, the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha, I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna.
kandiya nrsimha-pade magibo kakhana
nirapade navadvipe jugala-bhajana
bhaya bhaya paya yan’ra darsane se hari
prasanna hoibo kabe more daya kari
Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord Narasimha for the benediction of worshipping Radha and Krsna in Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, Whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His mercy?
Lord Krishna saying:
sarva-guhyatamam bhuyah, srnu me paramam vacah
isto ‘si me drdham iti, tato vaksyami te hitamu
bhuyah – Again; srnu – hear; me – My; sarva-guhyatamam – most hidden of all hidden; paramam – supreme; vacah – teachings.
(tvam) – You; asi – are; me – My; drdham – extremely; istah – dear one. iti tatah – For that reason; vaksyami – I am speaking; te – to you; hitam – for your highest benefit.
Now again hear My supreme teaching, the most hidden of all hidden treasures.
You are extremely dear to Me, and really, this is why I am explaining this for your true benefit.
