r^la B. R. r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj C entenary A nthology Kanak, kmin^, and pratih are the three main disturbing elements that misguide us and draw us from this side to that. But when we are free from them, the street we walk shall be broad and clear. r^la B.R. r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj (Kanak, kmin^, pratih: the desire for money, women and fame.) All Glories to the Divine Master and the Supreme Lord r^ Ka Chaitanya Pastimes, Glories and Teachings of r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj First compiled as an offering on the Occasion of The Centenary of his Holy Advent With an introduction by His Divine Grace r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Nabadwip, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math C entenary A nthology All rights reserved by: The Sevite-President-chryya r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah, Kolerganj, P.O. Nabadwip, Dist. Nadia, W.Bengal, Pin 741302, India with branches internationally. Website: http://scsmath.com First printing (with Special Sri Gaudiya Darshan Supplement): 1995 Second printing: 1996: Abhijit Das, ATN Printers, 3 Tiljala Road, Calcutta 700 039, India Compiled by: Mahnanda dsa Bhakti Rajan Published by: Sri Rasabdhi Brahmachary, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Kolerganj, P.O. Nabadwip, Dist. Nadia, W. Bengal, Pin 741302, India Nabadwip (03472) 240752 & 240086 Calcutta (033) 2590 9175 CONTENTS Foreword The Exclusive Line of r^la Saraswat^ hkur v by r^pd B.P. Janrdan Mahrj Introduction This Extremely Auspicious Day xiii by r^la B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswm^ PART 1 Chapter 1 ika-Guru 1 Chapter 2 Transcendental History 13 Chapter 3 r^la Guru Mahrj Remembers 23 PART 2 Chapter 4 Hearing to See 47 Chapter 5 The Guide 56 Chapter 6 Specific Service 63 Chapter 7 The Willing and the Able 67 Chapter 8 A Wonderful Touch 72 Chapter 9 Faith and Harmony 77 Chapter 10 Focussed to Guru 84 Chapter 11 Unadulterated Purity 88 Chapter 12 Surrender, Service Dedication 93 Chapter 13 The Harmonizing Spirit 101 Chapter 14 HarmonyBeautys Necessity 111 Chapter 15 Ambition of Life 121 Chapter 16 Place of Solution: r^ Nabadw^p Dhm 123 r^ Guru-Praasti 125 Appendix 131 Offered for the satisfaction of our Guardians: Their Divine Graces O Viupda r^ r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj and Ananta-r^ Vibhita Paramahasa-kula-chumai O Viupda r^ r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj First offered on October 18th 1995, the occasion of The Culmination of the Year Long Centenary Festival of r^la Guru Mahrj: r^ r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj With particular acknowledgement to: r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj by whose causeless grace the world today has the opportunity to be connected to the service of r^la Guru Mahrjs lotus feet. r^pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj for giving the inspiration to produce this publication in its present form. r^pd Bhakti Sudh^r Goswm^ Mahrj for his timely and greatly appreciated presentation of r^la Guru Mahrj to the world. As well as to the many devotees who have helped to make this and other publications from the Mah possible, particularly: r^pd Mdhavnanda Prabhu; r^pd abdev Prabhu; r^pd Premanidhi Prabhu, and many others O Viupd r^ r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Sevite and President-chryya of r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah O Viupd r^ r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Founder & President-chryya of r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah O Viupd r^ r^la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat^ hkur The Founder of r^ Gau^ya Mah O Viupd r^ r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj with O Viupd r^ r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj All glories to His Divine Grace, O Viupd Paramahasa hkur r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, the most illustrious follower of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur and who is ever giving the unlimited mercy of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu to the fallen souls. He has appeared as our most Divine Guardian. He is ever radiant in his mercy, and, resplendent like the morning sun, he is illuminating the most hidden recesses of our hearts. Foreword The Exclusive Line of r^la Saraswat^ hkur by His Holiness r^pd Bhakti Pvan Janrdan Mahrj Formerly printed in the form of a Centenary r^ Vysa-pj offering r^la Guru Mahrjs conclusions embody the full siddhnta of the line of r^la Rpa Goswm^, and his beautiful poetic style shines with the most sublime Ujjvala-rasa revealed by r^ Gaurga to His true followers. r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu has glorified the Brhma-Mdhva- Gau^ya Sampradya. As an effulgent locket adorns a necklace, so Mahprabhu appeared in the Sampradya began by Lord Brahm: ka hoite chatur-mukha. There are of course four Sampradyas: one was begun by Brahm, one by the Kumras, one by Lakm^ and one by Lord iva. Their preceptorial lines are continuing, and their followers present the conclusions of such stalwarts in their respec- tive Sampradyas as Rmnuja, Madhvchryya, Viuswm^ and Nimbarkchryya. Still, in the words of r^la Guru Mahrj, e-rpa roti brahm ambhu agochara, gaura bhakta kp ptra mtra siddhi sra The divine worship of Mahprabhu is beyond the vision of even Lord Brahm or Lord iva. Only by receiving the mercy of a devotee of Lord Gaurga can one attain such perfection. r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu appeared in the Brhma-Mdhva-Gau^ya Sampradya, but what he came to give is beyond the vision of the preceptor of the Sampradya, Lord Brahm himself. It is also beyond the purview of Lord iva. Both are mahjans, and recognized devotees, still they are unable to participate in the exclusive devotion given by r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu and known to His internal devotees such as r^la Guru Mahrj. Rather they ever pray to have bestowed upon them the mercy of Mahprabhus true followers so they may continue the progressive development of their devotion. r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu is actually situated in His own internal Sampradya, although apparently appearing within the Brhma- Mdhva-Gau^ya Sampradya. Mdhavendra pur^-vara, iya-vara r^- ^wara. Who preceded Mahprabhu and showed the deep mahbhva mood of separation of r^mat^ Rdhr^ was r^ Mdhavendra Pur^. In the r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, r^la Kads Kavirj progres- sively describes the deep mood of r^la Mdhavendra Pur^pd expressed in the verse: ayi d^na-dayrdra ntha he, mathur-ntha kadvalokyase O my Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathur! When shall I see You again? There it is noted that, Actually this verse was spoken by r^mat^ Rdhr^ Herself, and by Her mercy only was it manifest in the words of Mdhavendra Pur^. Only r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu has tasted the poetry of this verse. No fourth person is capable of understanding it. r^la Mdhavendra Pur^s effulgence of Ka-prema showed, in the original sprout form, the glory of Mahprabhus Sampradya. Although he was formally situated in the Brahm-Madhv-Gau^ya Sampradya, prior to his appearance there was no one in that line vi rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology who displayed the deep Love of Godhead, the mood of Ka-prema of Mdhavendra Pur^. His disciple was the most fortunate r^ wara Pur^, who was accepted as the preceptor of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu. When Mahprabhu visited the place of the appearance of Lord Ka in Mathur, and was dancing before the Deity of r^ Keava, an elderly brhmaa began to also dance in ecstatic love, Ka-prema, along with the Lord. Later, Mahprabhu asked that brhmaa where he had acquired such love. The elderly brhmaa replied that he had a connection with r^la Mdhavendra Pur^, who had visited his house and accepted him as a disciple. He also told Mahprabhu Himself: kintu tomra prema dekhi mane anumni mdhavendra-pur^ra sambandha dharajni. ka-prem t h, y h t hra sambandha th vin ei premra kh nhi gandha. Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with Mdhavendra Pur^. This is my understanding. This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only by one who has a relationship with Mdhavendra Pur^. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible. Without a connection with r^ Mdhavendra Pur^, such Love of Godhead is not possible. r^la Guru Mahrj has always said that we are not worshippers of form, but of substance. There is a qualitative presence that is expressed in the r^ Chaitanya-charitmta. We are not interested in mere general expressions like the Guru-parampar, but we are interested in the living line of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhus Sampradya which is mani- fest in the hearts of the most qualified representatives of the Lord. Just as r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu is much more than the Yuga-avatr, being the most sublime combination of Rasa-rj, r^ Ka, with Mahbhva, r^mat^ Rdhr^, similarly there are personalities who embody the presence of r^ Mdhavendra Pur^. In more recent times, that most divine presence again revealed itself in the person of r^la Bhaktivinod hkur. r^la Guru Mahrj composed his beautiful r^mad Bhaktivinoda-viraha Daakam during the time when r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur was personally The Exclusive Line of rla Saraswat hkur vii present in this world. There, r^la Guru Mahrj reveals: r^-gaurnumata svarpa-vidita rpgrajendta rpdyai pariveita raghu-gaair svdita sevitam j^vdyair abhirakita uka-iva-brahmdi-sammnita r^-rdh-pada-sevanmtam aho tad dtum ^o bhavn That which is the Gracious Gift of r^ Gaurachandra, the deep, internal purport of which is known by r^ Swarp Dmodar, that which is adored by r^ Santan Goswm^, and distributed by the Rasa- tattvchryyas headed by r^ Rpa Goswm^; that which is tasted and enriched by r^ Raghunth Ds Goswm^ and followers, and tenderly protected by r^ J^va Goswm^ and his associates; and that which is venerated from afar by the great personalities like Mahdev, lord of the gods, and Brahm, grandfather of the worldO wonder of wonders, that ecstatic nectar of the exclusive service of the lotus feet of r^ Rdhyou hold the perfect position to mercifully give even that to us. When r^la Guru Mahrj began to present his composition glori- fying r^la Bhaktivinod hkur before r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, at first r^la Saraswat^ hkur listened in a very scrutinizing way to the initial verses. But as r^la Guru Mahrj continued in his presentation, r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur became immensely pleased and appreciative, and commented that he was confident and satisfied that at least one of his followers was quali- fied to continue and properly represent his siddhnta and the essence of Mahprabhus line. r^la Guru Mahrj has eternally glorified the quality of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur in his many beautiful composi- tions such as r^ r^ Prabhupda-padma Stavaka, which to this day is sung in temples all over the world by the followers of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ Prabhupda. r^la Guru Mahrj has given us this beautiful pram verse in glorification of his Spiritual Master which r^la Guru Mahrj himself has explained: nikhila-bhuvana-my-chinna-vicchinna-kartr^ vibudha-bahula-mgy-mukti-mohnta-dtr^ viii rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology ithilita-vidhi-rgrdhya-rdhea-dhn^ vilasatu hdi nitya bhaktisiddhnta-v^ With his first step, he vigorously cut asunder the whole plane of exploitation, and with his second, he has put a stop to all the calcu- lations of the different scholars with their different conceptions of salvation, or liberated stages. With his third step, he has minimized the hardness and stiffness of the rules and regulations of calculative devo- tional service, by the touch of divine love: crossing Vaikuha, he has given us the worship of Rdh and Govinda. Calculation, the rules and regulations, awe, reverence, all these things are minimized, checked, slackened with the softness of Vndvan within, and with the hardness of a devastator without, he created havoc in the materialistic world, fighting with one and all. Single-handedly fighting against the whole world, and cutting asunder everythingthat was his external attitude. And his second attitude was to put a stop to all scholarly researchers and doctorates of different departments, and to stop their boasting research; and third, to minimize, to slacken the grandeur of the worship of Nrya. He caused the domain of love to descend into this plane with love from the heart as all in all. With that we come to serve our object of worship, and he represented the service of Rdh-Govinda as the highest attainment. That was his history. The real existence of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur Prabhupda is in bhaktisiddhnta-v^, his divine teachings. May that bhaktisiddhnta-v^ dance eternally within the core of your heart. When r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur was leaving this world, he called for r^la Guru Mahrj. In a gathering of his disci- ples he asked r^la Guru Mahrj to sing r^ Rpa Majar^-pada. Previously, r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur had examined r^la Guru Mahrj, and was satisfied that he could represent the essential line of r^ Gaurachandra, given by His true representative and follower, r^la Rpa Goswm^. Now, r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur gave the charge of that line to r^la Guru Mahrj in a way that many senior godbrothers present described as a mystic transmis- sion of responsibility. The Exclusive Line of rla Saraswat hkur ix After r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ Prabhupda departed from this world, his disciples sought out the association of r^la Guru Mahrj. It was not any formality which attracted them, any formal delegation of responsibility assigned to r^la Guru Mahrj. It was more intrinsic: they found in r^la Guru Mahrj that effulgent Ka- prema which accompanies the highest realizations of the Rpnuga line. It was this divine presence that attracted them, that made them ardently desire his association. Their attraction for the association of r^la Guru Mahrj was not because of his rank or seniority; he was not the most senior Vaiava present. At that time there were other godbrothers of r^la Guru Mahrj, disciples of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, that were senior in the Mission to r^la Guru Mahrj; but they them- selves came to associate with him. Prominent devotees accepted sannys from him, and saw him as their Sannys-guru. Leading disci- ples of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur felt inspired by r^la Guru Mahrj and looked towards him for his approval and inspira- tion in their own endeavours to preach and present the philosophy of their Spiritual Master. r^la Guru Mahrj has always presented the highest realizations of the Gau^ya-Vaiava line, the true teachings of r^la Rpa Goswm^. During the time that r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur was present, r^la Guru Mahrj was a prominent preacher. After r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur left this world, many came to Nabadw^p to associate with r^la Guru Mahrj. When we look to personalities like r^la Rpa Goswm^ or r^la Santan Goswm^, we do not count the number of disciples they had or how many temples they established. Their contribution is never to be judged in such a superficial and neophyte manner. Actually all preaching and inspira- tion is derived from them alone, and the substance that they came to give is non-different from r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu and the internal reasons for His descent. r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj gave so much to those who actually can appreciate the real Sampradya of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu and the line of r^la Rpa Goswm^. x rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Without an appreciation for him it will not be possible for devotees today to ever know what are the essential teachings of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu or ever aspire to know what is Ka-prema, love of Godhead. For the last forty-two years of his life, r^la Guru Mahrj was always in the association of his disciple and personal friend, r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, his confidant and chosen successor. So intimately were r^la Guru Mahrj and r^la Govinda Mahrj related that one could consider their two personalities as one combined existence. For instance, if it be true that r^la Guru Mahrj for reasons of his health, and to ultimately percolate his high realizations, remained in his r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah in Nabadw^p, he ultimately counted on the presence of r^la Govinda Mahrj, who he imbued with an indomitable spirit to go out and give his own high realizations to the whole world. We are ever seeing the magnanimous and benevolent nature of r^la Govinda Mahrj, and we consider it to be synonymous with r^la Guru Mahrjs desire to give the essential teachings of Mahprabhu to the ever-expanding Gau^ya-Vaiava world, who so much need them. Although superficially it may seem that r^la Guru Mahrj remained apart in his Mah, actually it was not so. r^la Guru Mahrj depended on r^la Govinda Mahrj to assist him in his mission, was himself inspired by r^la Govinda Mahrj to share his beautiful real- izations with the world, and ultimately entrusted everything to the hands of his beloved disciple: his Teachings, his Deities, his Realizations, his Mah, his Mission, his Life, Love and Inspiration. r^la Guru Mahrj saw in r^la Govinda Mahrj the qualities of one who could continue his mission and fully represent his deep real- izations. r^la Govinda Mahrj is most qualified to give the essential conclusions of Mahprabhus teachings and the conclusions of r^la Guru Mahrj and the chryyas who represent the line of r^la Rpa Goswm^. r^la Guru Mahrj dedicated so many years to prepare r^la Govinda Mahrj for this great responsibility and considered that by seating r^la Govinda Mahrj in his own chair that his endeavour was now complete. Those who supposedly follow r^la The Exclusive Line of rla Saraswat hkur xi Guru Mahrj but cannot appreciate and honor his desire do him a great disservice. When Vallabha Bhaa said he could not accept the authority of r^dhar Swm^ (who had previously commented on the rimad- Bhgavatam), r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu concluded: svm^ n mne yei jana veyra bhitare tre koriye gaana A woman who does not follow her swm^ [husband] is no better than a prostitute. I offer my daavat-prams at the lotus feet of r^la Guru Mahrj, r^la Govinda Mahrj, and their eternal associates and followers. They are all capable of flooding this entire universe with that Ka-prema that r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu and his Prada devotees came to give. They are each an ocean of mercy and are the only shelter for the fallen souls. I pray that they will not leave me behind. My prayer is that they will ever keep me near to them. C entenar y ear - xii rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Introduction This ExtremelyAuspicious Day A r^ Vysa-pj address by His Divine Grace r^la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, (with final editing by the author) r^la Guru Mahrj preached very successfully all over India. His preaching satisfied r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur. Everyone had special respect for r^la Guru Mahrj and this was shown by their actions. r^la Bhakti araga Goswm^ Mahrj took sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj even though r^la Guru Mahrj was junior to him (in the mission). r^la Bhakti Prajn Keava Mahrj was also senior to r^la Guru Mahrj and he was a very exalted brahmachr^ of the Sampradya, but he took sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj. Such advanced, intelligent personalities knew the prospect and conception of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur and his Sampradya. Like these examples, many great devotees of r^la Saraswat^ hkur wanted to take sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj, but r^la Guru Mahrj did not give easily. They wanted to take, but I saw that often they were afraid to ask him. In Vndvan in perhaps the 1950s I saw two disciples of r^la Saraswat^ hkur who wanted to take sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj, but they could not approach him, and lastly they went to r^la Goswm^ Mahrj. r^la Goswm^ Mahrj then asked r^la Guru Mahrj, Mahrj, shall I give sannys to them? r^la Guru Mahrj had much respect for r^la Goswm^ Mahrj and replied, Yes. Why are you asking me? But it is a fact that those devotees could not ask it from r^la Guru Mahrj. r r Guru-Gaurgau Jayata Many wanted to take sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj but could not come to him directly. That was the position of r^la Guru Mahrj. There was a very dear disciple of r^la Saraswat^ hkur who lived in the same room with r^la Saraswat^ hkur and received much affection from himhis name was Mahnanda Brahmachr^. We saw that lastly he came to r^la Guru Mahrj and said, Mahrj, I want to take sannys from you. Please give me sannys. r^la Guru Mahrj gave it very happily and his name became r^la Bhakti lok Paramahasa Mahrj. There were many other disciples of r^la Saraswat^ hkur, including r^la Bhakti Dayita Mdhava Mahrj, who wanted to take sannys from r^la Guru Mahrj. Having some idea about their Sampradya going in the line of r^ Rpnuga they all came to r^la Guru Mahrj. r^la Saraswat^ hkur expressed this through the highest song of our Sampradya, r^ Rpa-majar^-pada. He wanted to hear that song from r^la Guru Mahrj, not from others. This story is famous. If we need Ganges water we must go to the Ganges. Similarly it is necessary that if we want the conception given by r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu as well as r^la Saraswat^ hkur we must come to r^la r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj. This was also the expression of all the devotees of r^la Saraswat^ Goswm^ Prabhupda. We saw that r^la Guru Mahrj would yearly go once or twice to r^la Mdhava Mahrjs mah, and once or more to r^la Goswm^ Mahrjs mah. At that time there were strong party feelings amongst many devotees, but many of r^la Guru Mahrjs Godbrothers from other camps, including the secretaries and stalwarts from all parties, came to see r^la Guru Mahrj. Every year on the appearance day of r^la Goswm^ Mahrj, he invited r^la Guru Mahrj to his mah. For his respect r^la Guru Mahrj went there each year. However, one year r^la Guru Mahrj couldnt go because he was showing very poor health. r^la Goswm^ Mahrjs expression was, This year r^la r^dhar Mahrj cannot come. Every year he comes and blesses me with a further year of life, xiv rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology and by this blessing I am existing. Now I am thinking that next year I shall not be able to accept the pj of my disciples. Such were the exalted feelings of r^la Goswm^ Mahrj, and it happened that r^la Goswm^ Mahrj disappeared that year and so was unable to attend his own next Guru-pj day. At the time when the Gau^ya Mah was divided, devotees would generally not visit devotees of any other camp. But when r^la Guru Mahrj would go to r^la Mdhava Mahrjs mah, even the general secretary of the Gau^ya Mah would come and meet with r^la Guru Mahrj. One day r^la Guru Mahrj asked r^pd Supati Rajan Ng Prabhu, the general secretary of the Gau^ya Mah, Prabhu, why do you come to see me every time I come here? Supati Bbu replied in a very nice way: Your nature attracts us. Your disinterested nature, strong common sense and deep intelli- gencethese three things attract us, therefore I am coming to see you, and I am feeling so fortunate that still this kind of man is living within our Sampradya. In the Scriptures it is said: chryya m vijn^yn nvamanyeta karhichit na marttya buddhysyeta sarvva-deva-mayo guru (r^mad-Bhgavatam 11.17.27) That kind of Guru we have got. His mercy, his association, his associates association, his friends association, his Godbrothers association we have got. In that way we can say we are very fortunate that r^la Guru Mahrj bestowed his mercy upon us, but if we cannot worship him in a proper way and cannot respect him properly, then we will go to hell, actually. You see, in the Scriptures it is said cryya M vijn^yt: Bhagavn Himself in the form of the chryya appears in this mun- dane world to bestow His mercy to the sincere seekers. Nvamanyeta karhichit. Dont think anything about the Guru except that he is non-different from Ka. Then again Ka says, Na marttya buddhysyeta: dont consider him as a mundane man. He may appear in the form of a mundane body but he is not mundane. You must This Extremely Auspicious Day xv consider him as Myself. Sarvva-deva-mayo guru: all the Devas are living within his body. This kind of conception you must carry otherwise you cannot worship him properly. Respectful obeisance is necessary to the Guru. The fully surrendered soul will get full mercy from his Guru. Guru has many forms, and one who is a paramahasa sees everyone as his Guru. We must try to consider the Mahnta-guru, Chaittya-guru and ik-guru in a non-different way, but we cannot always understand the signal of the Chaittya-guru. Our mind lives in the mundane idea, therefore we cannot always say that what our mind says is coming from Ka. Sometimes, for one who is a very fortu- nate soul, he will receive instruction from his Chaittya-guru. But Ka represents Himself in the form of the Mahnta- and ik- gurus for our direct guidance. In which way can we understand? Kas tu Bhagavn svaya. r^mad-Bhgavatam said: ete cha-kal pusa, kas tu bhagavn svayam indrri-vykula loka, mayanti yuge yuge (r^mad-Bhgavatam 1.3.28) Ka is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and if we try to worship those who are really devoted to Ka, then our worship must go directly to Ka. This is the proper channel. We cannot serve Ka directly, but through Guru and Vaiava our service can go to Ka. We cannot see Ka, but through a lens we can see Him, oth- erwise not. There are so many planets in the sky and they exist both by day and by night, but how many can we see? We can see them only by looking through a telescope, and that is made by lenses set one after another. This is the process, and in spiritual life this is called the Guru-parampar. It is coming down by the mercy of Ka, and Ka Himself appears in the form of a human body, or any kind of form, but when He is very merciful we can understand His glories. ka yadi kp kare kona bhgyavne guru-antarymi-rpe ikhya pane (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta Madhya 22.47) xvi rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology It is depending upon fortune, and that fortune comes through the service to Guru and the Vaiavas. When we get such transcendental sukti, through that we get the connection of Guru. The Gurus posi- tion is so high. r^la Guru Mahrj used the expression, heavier than the Himalayas. One who is fully dedicated to his Guru will get everything. Etat sarvva gurau bhakty, puruo hy ajas jayet. He can conquer and get everything by the mercy of Guru. Before, in the Vedic age, we can see that the students would go to the Gurus house, and the Guru would engage them. This occurred also in the example of Ka and Sudm. They were instructed: Go to the jungle and bring some firewood. Go there. They were ordered to do many things, Do this. Do that. When disciples successfully carry out the order of their Guru and satisfy him, the Guru gives his blessings and they get all the transcendental knowledge, thus becoming all-rounders in spiritual life. In this present age also we have seen this kind of mercy in many cases. So it is necessary to fully surrender to Guru and carry out his order. But if we think that Guru is mundane, then we will go to hell and not get anything of transcendental knowledge. Ka consciousness is so high, and there is a special line of Guru. But even in an ordinary way we shall not get that conception of Vedic knowledge without their grace. Today is a very auspicious day, that r^la Guru Mahrj, the bearer of that high conception of Ka consciousnessMadhura-rasaon this day appeared to bestow his mercy upon us. This is an extremely auspicious day for us. He showed his appearance on the same day as Nitynanda Prabhus son. Nitynanda Prabhus glories were chanted by r^ Kads Kavirj Goswm^: preme matta nitynanda kp-avatra uttama, adhama, kichhu n kare vichra ye ge paaye, tre karaye nistra ataeva nistril mo-hena durchra (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta di 5.208209) This Extremely Auspicious Day xvii (Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love r^ Gaurga is an incar- nation of the ocean of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me.) I have no qualification, but Nitynanda Prabhu is so merciful that whoever goes to him receives his mercy. I have no qualification except that I approached him. There is no cause. It is causeless mercy. r^la Guru Mahrj said many times that mercy is above justice. Justice searches qualifica- tion, but mercy does not search for qualification, but only dedication. The word dedication is very easy to say, but Ka showed in which way the strength of dedication comes down into this mundane world. Ka said, sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja aha tv sarvva-ppebhyo, mokayiymi m ucha (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 18.66) Dont worry, but you dedicate yourself to Me fully. Non-religion must be ignored, but also do not be involved with religion. Leave that. Leave everything. Leave whatever you think is good for you as well as whatever you think is bad for you. Leave everything and dedicate yourself fully to Me. That is the advice of Ka. Sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, Mm eka, I am the only person who can give you relief from everything. What kind of mood of dedication is required? Mm eka araa vraja: you will see only the fully dedicated mood of Vraja-dhm. Ka said there is nothing more necessary than this. This is final. He then asked Arjjuna, Now have you settled your position? Arjjuna replied: Yes. Whatever You say, I shall do that. Dedication. Full dedication we can see in Vraja-dhm. Vivanth Chakravart^ hkur said: rdhyo bhagavn brajea-tanayas-tad-dhma vndvana ramy kchid-upsan vraja-vadh-vargea y kalpit r^mad-bhgavata pramam-amala prem pumartho mahn r^ chaitanya-mahprabhur-matam-ida tatrdaro na para xviii rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology (It is the conclusive opinion of Lord Chaitanya that r^ Ka, who is Vrajendra-nandana, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the topmost worshipable Supreme; Vndvan-dhm which is an expan- sion of Ka and is non-different from Him is the highest worshipable abode; the Gop^s are the highest example of the worship of r^ Ka; r^mad-Bhgavatam is the spotless evidence for knowing the Absolute Truth; Ka-prema is the fifth and highest goal of life. These are the teachings of r^ Chaitanya in a nutshell.) Ka is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and our whole mood of worship must go to Him. Like the Ganges going to the ocean, when a devotee hears the glories of Ka, his mind also goes like the Ganges to the ocean. Why? Because Ka lives in everyones heart. But full dedication is necessary. The Gurus mercy is supreme every- where. Without his mercy we cannot do anything. If we think that Guru is mundane then we must be faulty, of this there is no doubt. So we must be careful. There are ten kinds of Nmpardha. The third kind is gurvvavaj. You cannot ignore the directives and the lotus feet of your Gurudev. You must dedicate yourself there fully. His order is the order of all the Scriptures. Tad j gur hy avichra^y. You must not consider whether it is right or whether it is wrong, but whatever the Guru will say, you must do that without hesitation. Tad j gur hy avichra^y. There are many varieties of expressions in the Scriptures glori- fying r^la Gurudev. That Gurudev appeared on this day near to Nabadwip, showing his form in Hpniy. By his mercy we have arranged there in a Temple the service of the Deity and r^la Guru Mahrj for the remembrance of his appearance. We shall also go there for a festival of his glorification. Today is r^la Guru Mahrjs appearance day, and this is the highest auspicious day for the conditioned souls. I am praying to r^la Guru Mahrj. He is always merciful to us, no doubt, but more strength is necessary to fight with the my, the illusion. If illusion will manifest such as in the case of taking the form of Bibh^a, that is This Extremely Auspicious Day xix particularly dangerous. Such type of illusion is possible. Even Hanumn himself was also charmed by the illusion of Mah^rva. The story is that Rva was defeated in many ways by Rma- chandra, then he called his son, Mah^rva, who was living down in Ptla, the lower part of these worlds. Mah^rva had much power. He could go anywhere and in anyway. He went to Rva and said, Father, what happened? I see that Lak is massacred. Rva replied, Rm and Lakma have destroyed everything, but we cannot compete with them. They are destroying but we cannot kill them. Mah^rva then said, This is a small matter. I shall arrange it nicely. Mah^rva had much power of illusion through the worship of the goddess Kl^. He arranged to steel Rm and Lakma with the inten- tion of taking them to his own country to kill them as an offering in front of Mother Kl^. Bibh^a was in the company of Rm and Lakma and he knew of the illusory power of Mah^rva. When he heard Mah^rva had come to Lak, Bibh^a made everyone conscious of Mah^rvas danger, He can make illusion at any moment, so you must be careful. Hanumn said, Yes, I shall make a big fort with my tail. Everyone can stay there including Rm and Lakma. No one will be able to enter within that fort, so Mah^rva will not be able to enter. I shall stand guard at the gate, also Bibh^a can guard the wall of the fort, so no problem will come. They did this and Hanumn remained at the gate so none could enter the tail-made fort. Bibh^a guarded the fort wall. It took him a little time to walk all around the wall of the fortperhaps half an hour. He would periodically come back to consult with Hanumn, Has anyone come here? One time Hanumn said, Yes, Janak Rja (the father of S^t) came. He wanted to enter within the fort. I asked him to wait here for Bibh^a and if he gives permission he may then enter. In this way Mah^rva took on several forms such as Janak Rja, Daarath and Kaualy with the desire of entering that fort. In each case Hanumn asked them to wait but they went away. xx rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Lastly Mah^rva took the form of Bibh^a. One time after consulting with Hanumn, Bibh^a went away but within a short time, perhaps ten minutes, he again came before Hanumn. This time he was not the real Bibh^a, but Mah^rva. Hanumn commented, Oh, you have toured the walls very quickly this time. Bibh^a replied, No, actually I forgot that I wanted to give a kavach to Rm and Lakma and it will be very nice for them, there- fore I came back and didnt complete the tour of the wall. Hanumn thought it was the real Bibh^a, so he said, Yes, you can go inside. No problem. Mah^rva went inside and made an illusion whereby everyone went to sleep. He then took Rm and Lakma, made a hole, and went to Ptla. After some time the real Bibh^a came back. When Hanumn saw him he challenged, Who are you? You went ten minutes ago inside the fort, so who are you? Then Bibh^a replied, Yes, I am Bibh^a, your friend. No! Bibh^a already entered within the fort. You are not him! Then Bibh^a struck his forehead and said, Oh, in my form Mah^rva must have come and entered within the cave. Hanumn didnt believe him and took his hand. Come with me, we shall go inside. Within they saw a big hole and they saw that Rm and Lakma had been stolen by Mah^rva. So, if like taking the form of Bibh^a strong illusion will attack us, we do not see any way except the protection of our preceptor and protector, r^ Gurudev. If we have full faith in our Gurudev and are fully surrendered to our Gurudev, we must get transcendental strength, and in that way we can remove all illusion by his grace. So it is necessary to have strong faith in Gurudev, and to surrender fully to his divine lotus feet, then we shall get everything. We can appeal today to the lotus feet of r^la Guru Mahrj for that kind of strength. We are fallen souls, and very conditioned souls trying to proceed to our destination, but we cannot proceed properly because we are within the illusory environment. By his mercy we can proceed, but the destina- tion is so far from us; so may he mercifully bestow more and more This Extremely Auspicious Day xxi mercy upon us. This is my prayer on this day to r^la Guru Mahrj and to his dear associates, and to all of you. This year we have a special opportunity for the disciples of r^la Guru Mahrj as well as his devotional family to serve His Divine Grace with glorification, offerings and services of many types for his Divine Mission, the Deities and devotees. I believe it must be suc- cessful by his Divine Grace. Side by side, it is my special prayer to you all that you give your mercy to me so that I can serve r^la Guru Mahrj properly. This is my earnest prayer this day. C entenar y ear - xxii rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Part 1 r^la Guru Mahrj His Pastimes and Glories Chapter 1 is from The Guardian of Devotion (printed 1985 & 1988) presented by r^pd B.S. Goswm^ Mahrj. Chapters 2 and 3 are from r^la Guru Mahrj His Divine Pastimes & Precepts in Brief (printed 1994) presented by r^pd B.A. Sgar Mahrj. Chapter One ik Guru Our relationship is very intimate An excerpt from The Guardian of Devotion (Californian edition) compiled by r^pd B. S. Goswm^ Mahrj r^la A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm^ Prabhupd and r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj first met sometime in the year 1930 in Allahabad, India. In a taped conversation recorded in a 1973 meeting at r^la r^dhar Mahrjs mah at Nabadw^p Dhma, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj recalls: So, we are very fortunate to hear His Divine Grace, O Viupda Paramahasa-parivrjakcryya Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Mahrj. By age and by experience, in both ways, he is senior to me. I was fortunate to have his association since a very long time, perhaps in 1930, something like that. At that time, he did not accept sannysa; he just left home, and as a vnaprastha, in his white dress, he went to Allahabad. [To r^la r^dhar Mahrj] Mahrj, I think you remember the incident when you went to Allahabad? On that auspicious occasion, we were connected. There is a long story, it will take time, but I had the opportunity of associating with r^dhar Mahrj for several years. Ka and Prabhupd liked him to prepare me. r^dhar Mahrj lived in my house for many years, so naturally, we had very intimate talks and he was my good adviser. I took his advices, instructions, very seriously because from the very beginning I know that he is a pure Vaiava, a pure devotee, and I wanted to asso- ciate with him and tried to help him also. Our relationship is very inti- mate. Herein, we find the history of a transcendental relationship All Glories to r Guru and Gaurga between these two pure devotees of the Lord. Addressing r^la r^dhar Mahrj as His Divine Grace and O Viupdaforms of address for one regarded as a spiritual masterr^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj has transcended the norms of social etiquette and superficial formality. Intimately associating together for a concen- trated period of over five years, often for five to seven hours daily, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj considered that Ka and Prabhupd liked him to prepare me for his future expansive missionary activi- ties in the Western world. While remembering their intimate talks, specifically in regard to r^mad Bhagavad-g^t, r^la r^dhar Mahrj recalls the depth in penetration of their discussions. Once while dis- cussing the verse dadmi buddhi-yoga ta, yena mm upaynti te [Bg.10.10 I give them the understanding by which they can come to Me.] I submitted to him that here, upaynti is indicative of parak^ya rasa [paramour relationship]. On this point he agreed with me, saying, Yes, at this point there cannot be anything but the parak^ya rasa of Vraja. The conclusion of Bhagavad-g^t must come to this. Recognizing r^la r^dhar Mahrj as a pure Vaiava, a pure devotee since the beginning of their relationship, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj most highly valued his instructions and advice. He would often consult with him regarding the spiritual significance of his failing business and family relationships. An example of how r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj tried to help r^la r^dhar Mahrj in his preaching work is seen in his appre- ciating r^la r^dhar Mahrjs uncanny ability for extracting the essence of the Scriptures. He helped to finance the publication of r^la r^dhar Mahrjs original Sanskrit-Bengali work entitled r^ r^ Prapanna-j^vanmtam: Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls. The book, as well as containing original Sanskrit verses composed by r^la r^dhar Mahrj, is a compilation of verses from various Vaiava Scriptures such as r^mad-Bhgavatam, and includes excerpts from the works of r^la Rpa Goswm^. It is divided according to the six divisions of surrender. Constantly associating, whether in Allahabad, Calcutta, or other parts of India, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj and r^la r^dhar 2 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Mahrjs relationship continually developed. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj continues to recall their meeting: In my householder life I had opened an office in Bombay for our business. The Bombay Gau^ya Mah was established by r^dhar Mahrj and myself. We made two parties for begging, collecting alms. r^dhar Mahrj, myself, and Bhakti Sraga Goswm^ Mahrj. So, I took them to my chemist friends and I collected about five hundred rupees. r^dhar Mahrj would speak, I would introduce, and Goswm^ Mahrj would canvass. In the r^la Prabhupd-l^lmta, Satsvarpa dsa Goswm^ writes, Abhay would often accompany r^dhar Mahrj and his assistants at preaching programs, where he would play the mdaga. And when r^dhar Mahrj fell ill, Abhay led the other devotees on preaching engagements, performing k^rttana, playing mdaga, and giving lec- tures on the Bhgavatam. While still in Bombay, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj and r^la r^dhar Mahrj were the receiving party for a Gau^ya Mah sannys^ upon his return from Europe. Although dismayed by his changed appearance which was missing the tridaa of a Gau^ya sannysi, the ikha of a Vaiava, as well as the traditional robes, they still eagerly inquired in regard to the preaching field in the West. The sannys^ remarked, They ask questions that cannot be answered. Concerned, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj inquired further as to the nature of those questions. One after another r^la r^dhar Mahrj answered them all. At last, the sannys^ was left dumbfounded and r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj boldly declared, Today, Europe has been defeated by Asia! During the lifetime of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, r^la r^dhar Mahrj once composed a poem describing the onto- logical positions of r^la Bhaktivinoda hkur and the line of disci- plic succession stemming from r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu. r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur was so pleased with the poems ontological depth and its happy style that he remarked, Bhaktivinoda hkur has written this through him. Now I am satisfied that although I may go, at least one man remains behind who can represent my ik Guru 3 4 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology conclusions. In further appreciation of r^la r^dhar Mahrjs writings, r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur informed the editors of the Gau^ya Mahs periodicals, If you include articles written by r^dhar Mahrj, the quality of your publications will be greatly improved. After the disappearance of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, the Gau^ya Mah gradually diverged. With full knowledge of the events surrounding the disintegration of the Gau^ya Mah, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj told his disciples in the same 1973 conversation, Our relationship is very intimate. After the breakdown of the Gau^ya Mah, I wanted to organize another organization, making r^dhar Mahrj the head. Reciprocating the appreciation, r^la r^dhar Mahrj advised the leaders of the Gau^ya Sagha to confer the title Bhaktivednta upon the then Abhay Charan. Later, his Sannys-guru, r^pd Bhakti Prajna Keava Mahrj, one of the senior-most disciples of r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur, and the first sannys disciple of r^la r^dhar Mahrj, gave sannysa to Abhay Charan, retaining the title Bhaktivednta, and conferring the sannysa name Swm^. Additionally, when r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj returned to India in October of 1967, after his successful preaching initiative in America, he stayed with r^la r^dhar Mahrj in Nabadw^p, and observed his Vysa-pj celebration. At that time, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj wrote a letter to a disciple saying, Yesterday, we have all come to Nabadw^p Dhma. This place is an establishment of one of my Godbrothers. It is a very nice and extensive place, and my Godbrother B.R. r^dhar Mahrj has spared one entire house for our stay. He has also agreed to cooperate with our society. We shall observe his birthday celebration, and the brahmachar^s shall learn how to celebrate the spiritual masters birthday. Shortly afterwards, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj asked r^la r^dhar Mahrj to be the president of his newly formed societythe International Society for Ka Consciousness. During the Vysa-pj celebration, one of r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrjs disciples saw r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj ik Guru 5 and r^la r^dhar Mahrj fully absorbed in a deep discussion in Bengali. The disciple inquired from r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj what was the nature of their talk, and he replied, If I were to tell you, you would faint. r^dhar Mahrj has very high realizations. That r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj continually regarded r^la r^dhar Mahrj as his adviser throughout his life is clear in the following letter written by him to one of r^la r^dhar Mahrjs dis- ciples, r^pd Govinda Mahrj. Concerned about his failing health, he had written r^la r^dhar Mahrj asking whether he should con- tinue living in the United States or return to India to live his last days in Vndvan. After receiving r^la r^dhar Mahrjs reply, he wrote, What r^pd r^dhar Mahrj has directed, I take it on my head. He is my always well-wisher. After the departure of Prabhupd it is appropriate that I should accept his direction. I got direction from him that I shall live in this country forever. Sometimes it is said that ones preaching contribution can be judged according to the number of temples established, devotees con- verted, and books published and distributed. r^la r^dhar Mahrj travelled and preached extensively all over India, personally accom- panying r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur for many years. Nearly fifty years 1 ago, he established the r^ Chaitanya Sraswat Mah on the banks of the Ganges in Nabadw^p Dhma, which is now a thriving institution. His followers have established temples in major cities throughout the world. His Sanskrit and Bengali writings have been appreciated by both scholars and devotees for their originality, depth of realization, and happy poetic style. Published and widely distributed throughout the world, they are now available in English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, German, French 2 , and are being trans- lated into other languages. 1 Since then the Mahs Golden Jubilee was gloriously celebrated in 1991. 2 By now, the culmination of r^la Guru Mahrjs Centenary year, his books are available in: Gujurati, English, Dutch, German, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Farsi, Malay, Tamil, Orian, Bengali, Hindi, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech and Hungarian 6 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Throughout his life, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj always maintained the highest respect and confidence in r^la r^dhar Mahrj. He considered that whenever it was not possible for his disciples to proceed directly under his guidance, that they should take direction from r^la r^dhar Mahrj. He once wrote in a letter to one of his stu- dents, Because you are my disciple, and I think, a sincere soul, it is my duty to refer you to someone who is competent to act as a ik- guru. For spiritual advancement of life, we must go to someone who is actually practicing spiritual life. So, if you are actually serious to take instructions from a ik-guru, I can refer you to the one who is the most highly competent of all my Godbrothers. This is B.R. r^dhar Mahrj, whom I consider to be even my ik-guru, so what to speak of the benefit that you can have by his association. So, if you are serious about the advancement of your spiritual life, I will advise you to go to r^dhar Mahrj. It will be very good for your spiritual benefit, and I will feel that you are safe. When I was in India with the others, we lived with r^dhar Mahrj. You can also make arrange- ments for your other Godbrothers to go there in the future. So, live peacefully with r^dhar Mahrj, and thereby you will be spiritually enlightened. In this passage, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj describes r^la r^dhar Mahrj as the most competent of all my Godbrothers, someone competent to act as ik-guru, and in an astounding state- ment he declares, I consider r^dhar Mahrj to be my ik-guru, so what to speak of the benefit that you can have from his association! What r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj means by ik-guru is best explained in his own words. In his purports to the di-l^l of Chaitanya-charitmta, he states: One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Ka. Kadsa Kavirja Goswm^ states that there are two kinds of instructing spiritual mas- ters. One is the liberated person fully absorbed in meditation in devo- tional service and the other is he who invokes the disciples spiritual consciousness by means of relevant instructions. There is no differ- ence between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between ik Guru 7 them, he commits an offence in the discharge of devotional service. (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta. di, 1.47) Although it may be said that r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj encouraged his Godbrothers in general, no one anywhere can pro- duce a similar statement of endorsement. The fact is that r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj possessed the highest respect and appreciation for r^la r^dhar Mahrj, and r^la r^dhar Mahrj is unparalleled in his understanding and admiration of r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj, as evinced in the following eulogy: So our Swm^ Mahrj has done a miracle! hkur Bhaktivinoda conceived and Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur began to translate this conception into action. And we find that through Swm^ Mahrj, in his last days, it has been fulfilled to such a great extent. We are happy, we are glad, we are proud! In response to this, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj with great humility, his voice choked with emotion, tearfully replied, So, by Guru and Vaiava, whatever position I have got it is by Gurus mercy and the blessings of the Vaiavas. Otherwise, how I may have? So, I wish that r^dhar Mahrj may bestow his blessings as he was doing always, and may Guru Mahrj help me so I can do some service. By his grace it has become successful. I have no credit. I do not know how things are happening, because I am not at all quali- fied: chaiya vaiava sev, nitara payeche keba. [Without serving an ideal Vaiava, who can be delivered from the clutches of my?] And after the disappearance of r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj, r^la r^dhar Mahrj declared, I consider him to be aktyvea- avatra, and it is confirmed in his writings on his spiritual journey through the Atlantic. How he landed there in America, and the nature of his beginning the movement, his intense degree of dedication to Ka and dependence, and how much he made himself empty of any other desire than the order of his Gurudevaquite empty that Ka came down to help him, and it is corroborated that Ka worked on his behalf. In his poem, Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Ka, we find him pleading with Ka, My dear Brother, Your good fortune will come to You only when r^mat^ Rdhr^ becomes pleased with You. 8 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Seeing his Gurudeva r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ as Rdhr^s delegation and his order as Her divine service, he humbly submitted that he did not feel himself worthy or fit to discharge the divine service, so he enlisted Ka in the service of his Guru. He had com- pletely dedicated himself to the purpose, he was so earnest in his prayer to Ka that he may discharge the duty that he has been given by his Guru Maharaja, that divine force, power came down to help him. Otherwise, it is impossible. It is not a thing of the ordinary level that anyone will do, but the highest thing has been taken down to the lowest position so extensively. It cannot but be the divine power, embodied and in a great intensity and magnitude! So, aktyvea- avatra, I cannot but take him to be so. With such appreciation, there should be little doubt why r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj had implicit faith in r^la r^dhar Mahrj. He had even heard directly from r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur of the exceptional qualifications of r^la r^dhar Mahrj. In their last known recorded meeting in 1977, just prior to r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrjs leaving this mortal world, we find him imploring r^la r^dhar Mahrj to take up residence at his temple in r^dhm Mypur. The conversation that ensues is a transcript of their taped conver- sation of March 1977. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: I do not know for how long I will be able to carry on. So, I came to see r^dhar Mahrj. Devotee: If you all go away, then the world will become dark. r^la r^dhar Mahrj: [to r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj] It is so wonderful that the will of the Lord becomes manifest through someone. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: I want very much, Mahrj, that you come and stay at Mypur. Because Prabhupd always desired that you preach. He told me quite a few times, Why dont you pull him out? [They both laugh.] You know, I also tried to some extent before, but somehow or other it did not work out. Now, why dont you come and stay at Mypur? r^la Prabhupd told me also, r^dhar ik Guru 9 Mahrj is one of the finest preachers. I want to take you every- where. At least at the place we have in Mypur, people are coming from all over the world. Why dont you come and stay there? If you just agree, then whatever kind of building you want, I will arrange it for you. They are trying to build a house for me. So both of us will stay there. And whenever you want, you can come here to your mah. r^la r^dhar Mahrj: Yes, as long as I am alive to fulfil Prabhupds desire. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: This is my earnest desire. Since you could not go around the world and preach, at least stay there and people will come to you. I shall make that arrangement. If you stay, then it will be helpful to me also. Sometimes I need to consult with someone but there is no one. There is no one that I can consult. I feel this deficiency very greatly. Devotee: If he stays in Mypur, then, all kinds of people will get to hear from him. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: Yes, thats right. r^la r^dhar Mahrj: Yes, people from all kinds of cultural back- grounds will come there. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: Yes, and they are already coming. And in that house I will make arrangements for an elevator so that you wont have to go through the difficulty of walking up and down the stairs. You wont even have to move a step yourself. Ill make arrangements for a car and a lift. My disciples are telling me that they will build a house for me. So, both of us will stay in that house. Most of the time I am travelling around, so if you are there, then they can get some guidance. So, Mahrj, please, give me the order and I will make all the arrangements for you. That Planetarium [The Temple of Understanding] also will be built under your direction. My idea is to combine the Indian culture and the American moneythe lame man and the blind man policy. I tell them also that this will be very beneficial for the world. Here, in their final meeting, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj prophetically refers to his imminent disappearance and reveals that it 10 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology is in this connection that he has come to see r^la r^dhar Mahrj. In friendly jesting, they discuss r^la r^dhar Mahrjs reticence regarding large-scale preaching work. Of himself, r^la r^dhar Mahrj has remarked, I did not want to become a big person. That is not my nature. I did not want to move around with many people. I am just satisfied with whatever I have. My spiritual thinking is my life. The conclusions of the Scriptures, the advices of the mahjanas, to relish them and practice them and to discuss them in a small confi- dential circle, that is the main goal of my life. In the Ninth Canto of r^mad-Bhgavatam, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj, quoting Dhruva Mahrj, writes: My dear Lord, I am fully satisfied with whatever You have given me. I have nothing else to ask from You, for I am fully satisfied to be engaged in Your service. This is the men- tality of a pure devotee who does not want anything material or spir- itual from the Personality of Godhead. Our Ka consciousness movement is therefore called kna-bhvanmta-sagha, the asso- ciation of persons who are simply interested in thoughts of Ka. r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj testifies to his having per- sonally heard r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur mark the high qualifications of r^la r^dhar Mahrj, whom he had once requested to go to the West. In this regard, r^la r^dhar Mahrj once remarked, My Guru Mahrj wanted me to go to the West for preaching, but I dont consider myself a fit person to preach in the West. Because, you see, I cant follow your intonation. So, [laughing] I must listen clearly, then I shall tell. So, in this way, I told that if you order, I must go, but I dont think that I am fit to preach in the West. Anyhow, it was stopped, and Goswm^ Mahrj was sent to the West. When r^la r^dhar Mahrj had been selected, one of his godbrothers came to him and revealed the reason why r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur had chosen him to preach in the West. This Godbrother explained, Do you know why Prabhupd wanted you to be sent to the West? He said, Because he cant be converted. And just twenty-four hours before his departure from this mortal world, r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur called for his beloved disciple r^la r^dhar Mahrj, and asked him to sing the song of ik Guru 11 Narottama dsa hkur: r^-Rpa-Majar^-pada (the lotus feet of Rpa Majar^ are my treasure). r^la r^dhar Mahrj recalls: So I did, hesitatingly. My nature is always hesitating, pushing back. Then, Kuja Babu asked me to stop. I was not a good singer, so as soon as he suggested, I stopped. Then, Kuja Babu asked Pur^ Mahrj of Kalna, You sing. So he began. Then, r^la Prabhupd was a little disturbed. I dont like to hear the sweet tune of the song, he said. Then, he stopped, and I had to begin again with r^ rpa majar^ pada, sei mora sapada. He wanted me to sing that song. That is the fulfilment of life of everyone of us, to be rpnugafollowers of r^ Rpa. Senior godbrothers who witnessed this exchange have described it as a mystic transmission in which r^la r^dhar Mahrj was given admittance into the eternal entourage of r^ Rpa Majar^. r^la r^dhar Mahrjs humble vision, however, is that he was posted as the gatekeeper, the guardian of devotion (Bhakti-Rakak), to protect the storehouse of conclusive truths about the full-fledged theistic con- ception of r^ Ka, as given by r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu. Further expressing his appreciation for r^la r^dhar Mahrjs high realizations in Ka consciousness, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj says, I want to take you everywhere. At least at the place we have in Mypur, people are coming from all over the world. Why dont you stay there? Sometimes it is wondered why r^la r^dhar Mahrj apparently did not take up r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrjs offer. r^la r^dhar Mahrj explains, I said, Of course I shall try to help you. Sometimes I shall go and stay there with you. But I really did not think at the time that I shall survive him. Finally, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj refers to that plan- etarium. r^la r^dhar Mahrj is very fond of Santana Goswm^s most famous work, the Bhad-Bhgavatmtam, in which devotees, devotional service, and Ka are described very scientifically. On the basis of this transcendental literature, r^la r^dhar Mahrj had contemplated an elaborate preaching exhibition, showing graphically, with the use of dioramas depicting the varieties of material and spir- itual planetary systems, how the ultimate spiritual destination is 12 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Kas own abode, Goloka Vndvan. Due to insufficient funds, r^la r^dhar Mahrj humbly submitted his idea to r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj, who approved saying, It will be built under your direction. And just prior to his departure from this mortal world, r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj advised his senior disciples that in his absence, when the necessity arose to consult higher authority, that they should consult r^la r^dhar Mahrj. In conclusion, we humbly submit that the transcendental relationship between r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj and r^la r^dhar Mahrj be viewed and respected in terms of their eternal spiritual positions, and long-standing appre- ciation and affection for one another. Since the departure of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj Prabhupd, the Guardian of Devotion, His Divine Grace r^la Bhakti Rakak r^la r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, has repeat- edly protected the teachings of the disciplic succession from perver- sion and misrepresentation as he has done for more than half a cen- tury, and has come to be recognized as a Jagad-guru or World cryya. C entenar y ear - 16 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology O^ Vi!@upd Paramaha^sa r( r(la Prabhupd Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( [18741937] was the illustrious Founder-President of r( Chaitanya Ma$h with sixty-four branches all over India, known as Gau#(ya Ma$hs. He also established preaching missions abroad. r(la r(dhar Mahrj, during his college studies, was deeply attracted to the Divine Life and Precepts of r( Chaitanyadev, and as a result he rst made contact with r(la Prabhupd in the Gau#(ya Ma$h, and he fully committed himself to the Mission in 1926. When r(la r(dhar Mahrj left home and joined the Mission, his Gurudev, r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd was overjoyed, and he quoted the famous r( G(t loka in appreciation: "I > I l "F" 4 I4 l yad yad charati re!$as tat tad evetaro jana% sa yat pram@a^ kurute lokas tad anuvarttate The people follow the ways of the great. They follow whatever conclusion the great personalities accept as correct. He expressed his openhearted joy that such an extremely qualied person as r(la r(dhar Mahrj had come forward to participate in the Mission of r(man Mahprabhu. Even before taking sannysa, r(la r(dhar Mahrj was a very exalted and rm preacher in the Mission, and r(la Prabhupd was most satised with him. In 1930, at the original Ul$ &g Gau#(ya Ma$h, r(la Prabhupd Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( ordained him in Sannysa [monkhood], awarding him the Trida@#a-Sannysa title of r(mad Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar, meaning the Illustrious Guardian of Devotion, because of his formidable scriptural command and natural, deep spiritual insight. r(la r(dhar Mahrj travelled extensively throughout the whole of India preaching uently in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English. His English carried an attractive sweetness and eloquence of a unique character. He successfully spread Lord r( Chaitanyadevs Message on mass levels such as various colleges and universities, and he conducted public seminars and Sa&k(rttan Festivals. II1/kj.tek6. iryA All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga Chapter Two Transcendental History {A condensed excerpt from Srila Guru MaharajHis Divine Pastimes & Precepts in Brief by r(pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj} The blessed parents of His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar Dev-Goswm(, of highly respected Brhminical lineage, were r( r( Upendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya Vidyratna and r(mat( Gaur( Bl Dev(. They named their illustrious son, our r(la Guru Mahrj, r( Rmendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya. His blessed Appearance was at r(p$ Hpniy, District Burdwan, West Bengal. During the presence of r(la Guru Mahrj in the world, at that sacred place a beautiful Temple and Ashram, by the name of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ashram, was constructed by our benevolent Sevaite- President-chryya of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h, His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. From his noble and gracious father, r(la Guru Mahrjs exalted line of forefathers [St-puru!a] are as follows: his fathers name, r(yukta Upendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya; his grandfathers name, r(yukta Rm Gopl Deva Sharmm; his great grandfathers name, r(yukta Rmdhan Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta Rj(va Lochan Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta M~tyujay Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta Dhanajay Deva Sharmm; and his father was r(yukta Govinda Rm Deva Sharmm. The titl e Bha$$chryya was peculiar to the line when they predominantly performed and taught religious sacrices and worship [paurohitya]. In the line, many were also Brahminical spiritual masters with thousands of disciples. There were a number of professions adopted in the line, Transcendental History 15 14 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology including farming and landownership. Sanskrit scholarship was pre- dominant all through. r(la Guru Mahrj was aware that r(yukta Rmdhan was a particularly outstanding scholar. The illustrious family line of r(la Guru Mahrj originates with the sage called Rajar!i Vtsya, and is known as the Rajar!i Vtsya Gotra. r(la Guru Mahrjs mothers family lineage was also Bha$$chryya Brhma@a. Her fathers name was r(yukta Rdh Vallabha Bha$$chryya, from a place called Khaithan. By the arrangement of the free will of fortune, the rst child of r(la Guru Mahrjs parents did not live. r(la Guru Mahrj was the rst son, then after His Divine Grace the second son was r(yukta Ma@(ndra Chandra, after whom came the rst daughter r(yukt Jagadhtr( Dev(. After her were two sons, r(yukta Satyendra Chandra, then r(yukta Amarendra Chandra. The last two children were the daughters r(yukt U! R@( Dev( and r(yukt Ram R@( Dev(. r(yukt Ram R@( Dev( [Devy], a devout disciple of r(la Guru Mahrj. Also, r(yukt Jagadhtr( Dev(, r(yukta Satyendra Chandra and r(yukta Amarendra Chandra all accepted initiation from r(la Guru Mahrj. Prior to the Appearance of r(la Guru Mahrj, his fathers elder brothers wife [je$hi-m], r(mat( Kumud Kmin(, was one day visiting a holy place of pilgrimage to have the daran of a particular Deity. She dreamt that night that the Deity presented her with a beautiful baby. The baby was effulgent and his head was without hair. She thought, r(mat( Gaur( Dev( has no issue, so in the dream she gave the baby to the hand of r(mat( Gaur( Dev(. After some days, r(la Guru Mahrj appeared, and lor(mat( Kumud Kmin( saw that the newly-born child was identical with the beautiful baby of her dream. He stayed at his maternal uncles house for his primary education at Khaithan Grm where he attended the local P$hl [primary school] there. His intelligence was brilliant, his character most exalted. Twice he got double promotions at school, and he was always top of the class. From childhood, he had an in-born aptitude for the Sanskrit lan- guage. He attended the high school at Okars, about two miles walk West from his home at Hpniy. When r(la Guru Mahrj was a youth, r(mat( Gaur( Dev( would cook many tasteful vegetable dishes for the family. But when r(la Guru Mahrj ate, his mother wept. Guru Mahrj would only accept one vegetablethe bitter Neem leaf prepared as a wet vegetable with rice. Further, he would only eat what was given to him once. He wouldnt accept anything a second timebecause in his heart he offered every- thing to the Lord before eating. As a young lad, he unfailingly bathed every day in the sacred Ganges at Dmpl. Rising early before sunrise, he would walk there daily, three miles and back. He would also pick some lotus owers from a natural reservoir and offer them every day to the Ganges and Lord iva. Once when walking to Jmpur with a lotus ower in his hand for offering to the Deity Bu\arj [Lord iva], he had a sudden revelation of Viva- R)pa, the Universal Form. When studying at Baharampur college at District Mush(rabd, one day r(la Guru Mahrj happened to meet an astrologer at the Baharampur railway station. The astrologer requested r(la Guru Mahrj to show him his hand, upon seeing which he remarked that [1] r(la Guru Mahrj would be fully self-realized, [2] he would become a famous preacher of Harikath far and wide, and [3] he would depart the world at ninety-three years of age. All three predictions came true. The name of the astrologer was Yog( B(r r( Barad Majumdr. He was the headmaster of the Llgol high school, seven stations down the line, about a two-hour trainride from Baharampur. That school was founded by a King by the name of Rj Yogendra Nrya@a Ro, in the name of his father Rj Mahendra Nrya@a Ro. Yog( B(r Barad Majumdr was accepted by the famous general of Bengal, Subhash Chandra Bose, as his Guru. At college r(la Guru Mahrj became indifferent to his books of study, and would read only r( Chaitanya-Charitm~ta and r( Chaitanya-Bhgavata. Yet, he passed his examinations, coming in the rst division, while the student most diligent in his studies failed. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts he studied law, but before completing those studies he joined Mahatma Gandhis non-cooperation movement in 1921, staying for about two years. From childhood, however, despite the fact that he was born in a renowned Smrtta-brhma@a family, his natural mood of religious attraction was for the Sa&k(rttan [congrega- tional chanting of the Holy Name] of r( Chaitanya Mahprabhu. Transcendental History 15 14 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology including farming and landownership. Sanskrit scholarship was pre- dominant all through. r(la Guru Mahrj was aware that r(yukta Rmdhan was a particularly outstanding scholar. The illustrious family line of r(la Guru Mahrj originates with the sage called Rajar!i Vtsya, and is known as the Rajar!i Vtsya Gotra. r(la Guru Mahrjs mothers family lineage was also Bha$$chryya Brhma@a. Her fathers name was r(yukta Rdh Vallabha Bha$$chryya, from a place called Khaithan. By the arrangement of the free will of fortune, the rst child of r(la Guru Mahrjs parents did not live. r(la Guru Mahrj was the rst son, then after His Divine Grace the second son was r(yukta Ma@(ndra Chandra, after whom came the rst daughter r(yukt Jagadhtr( Dev(. After her were two sons, r(yukta Satyendra Chandra, then r(yukta Amarendra Chandra. The last two children were the daughters r(yukt U! R@( Dev( and r(yukt Ram R@( Dev(. r(yukt Ram R@( Dev( [Devy], a devout disciple of r(la Guru Mahrj. Also, r(yukt Jagadhtr( Dev(, r(yukta Satyendra Chandra and r(yukta Amarendra Chandra all accepted initiation from r(la Guru Mahrj. Prior to the Appearance of r(la Guru Mahrj, his fathers elder brothers wife [je$hi-m], r(mat( Kumud Kmin(, was one day visiting a holy place of pilgrimage to have the daran of a particular Deity. She dreamt that night that the Deity presented her with a beautiful baby. The baby was effulgent and his head was without hair. She thought, r(mat( Gaur( Dev( has no issue, so in the dream she gave the baby to the hand of r(mat( Gaur( Dev(. After some days, r(la Guru Mahrj appeared, and lor(mat( Kumud Kmin( saw that the newly-born child was identical with the beautiful baby of her dream. He stayed at his maternal uncles house for his primary education at Khaithan Grm where he attended the local P$hl [primary school] there. His intelligence was brilliant, his character most exalted. Twice he got double promotions at school, and he was always top of the class. From childhood, he had an in-born aptitude for the Sanskrit lan- guage. He attended the high school at Okars, about two miles walk West from his home at Hpniy. When r(la Guru Mahrj was a youth, r(mat( Gaur( Dev( would cook many tasteful vegetable dishes for the family. But when r(la Guru Mahrj ate, his mother wept. Guru Mahrj would only accept one vegetablethe bitter Neem leaf prepared as a wet vegetable with rice. Further, he would only eat what was given to him once. He wouldnt accept anything a second timebecause in his heart he offered every- thing to the Lord before eating. As a young lad, he unfailingly bathed every day in the sacred Ganges at Dmpl. Rising early before sunrise, he would walk there daily, three miles and back. He would also pick some lotus owers from a natural reservoir and offer them every day to the Ganges and Lord iva. Once when walking to Jmpur with a lotus ower in his hand for offering to the Deity Bu\arj [Lord iva], he had a sudden revelation of Viva- R)pa, the Universal Form. When studying at Baharampur college at District Mush(rabd, one day r(la Guru Mahrj happened to meet an astrologer at the Baharampur railway station. The astrologer requested r(la Guru Mahrj to show him his hand, upon seeing which he remarked that [1] r(la Guru Mahrj would be fully self-realized, [2] he would become a famous preacher of Harikath far and wide, and [3] he would depart the world at ninety-three years of age. All three predictions came true. The name of the astrologer was Yog( B(r r( Barad Majumdr. He was the headmaster of the Llgol high school, seven stations down the line, about a two-hour trainride from Baharampur. That school was founded by a King by the name of Rj Yogendra Nrya@a Ro, in the name of his father Rj Mahendra Nrya@a Ro. Yog( B(r Barad Majumdr was accepted by the famous general of Bengal, Subhash Chandra Bose, as his Guru. At college r(la Guru Mahrj became indifferent to his books of study, and would read only r( Chaitanya-Charitm~ta and r( Chaitanya-Bhgavata. Yet, he passed his examinations, coming in the rst division, while the student most diligent in his studies failed. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts he studied law, but before completing those studies he joined Mahatma Gandhis non-cooperation movement in 1921, staying for about two years. From childhood, however, despite the fact that he was born in a renowned Smrtta-brhma@a family, his natural mood of religious attraction was for the Sa&k(rttan [congrega- tional chanting of the Holy Name] of r( Chaitanya Mahprabhu. 16 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology O^ Vi!@upd Paramaha^sa r( r(la Prabhupd Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( [18741937] was the illustrious Founder-President of r( Chaitanya Ma$h with sixty-four branches all over India, known as Gau#(ya Ma$hs. He also established preaching missions abroad. r(la r(dhar Mahrj, during his college studies, was deeply attracted to the Divine Life and Precepts of r( Chaitanyadev, and as a result he rst made contact with r(la Prabhupd in the Gau#(ya Ma$h, and he fully committed himself to the Mission in 1926. When r(la r(dhar Mahrj left home and joined the Mission, his Gurudev, r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd was overjoyed, and he quoted the famous r( G(t loka in appreciation: "I > I l "F" 4 I4 l yad yad charati re!$as tat tad evetaro jana% sa yat pram@a^ kurute lokas tad anuvarttate The people follow the ways of the great. They follow whatever conclusion the great personalities accept as correct. He expressed his openhearted joy that such an extremely qualied person as r(la r(dhar Mahrj had come forward to participate in the Mission of r(man Mahprabhu. Even before taking sannysa, r(la r(dhar Mahrj was a very exalted and rm preacher in the Mission, and r(la Prabhupd was most satised with him. In 1930, at the original Ul$ &g Gau#(ya Ma$h, r(la Prabhupd Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( ordained him in Sannysa [monkhood], awarding him the Trida@#a-Sannysa title of r(mad Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar, meaning the Illustrious Guardian of Devotion, because of his formidable scriptural command and natural, deep spiritual insight. r(la r(dhar Mahrj travelled extensively throughout the whole of India preaching uently in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English. His English carried an attractive sweetness and eloquence of a unique character. He successfully spread Lord r( Chaitanyadevs Message on mass levels such as various colleges and universities, and he conducted public seminars and Sa&k(rttan Festivals. II1/kj.tek6. iryA All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga Chapter Two Transcendental History {A condensed excerpt from Srila Guru MaharajHis Divine Pastimes & Precepts in Brief by r(pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj} The blessed parents of His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar Dev-Goswm(, of highly respected Brhminical lineage, were r( r( Upendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya Vidyratna and r(mat( Gaur( Bl Dev(. They named their illustrious son, our r(la Guru Mahrj, r( Rmendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya. His blessed Appearance was at r(p$ Hpniy, District Burdwan, West Bengal. During the presence of r(la Guru Mahrj in the world, at that sacred place a beautiful Temple and Ashram, by the name of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ashram, was constructed by our benevolent Sevaite- President-chryya of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h, His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. From his noble and gracious father, r(la Guru Mahrjs exalted line of forefathers [St-puru!a] are as follows: his fathers name, r(yukta Upendra Chandra Deva Sharmm Bha$$chryya; his grandfathers name, r(yukta Rm Gopl Deva Sharmm; his great grandfathers name, r(yukta Rmdhan Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta Rj(va Lochan Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta M~tyujay Deva Sharmm; his father was r(yukta Dhanajay Deva Sharmm; and his father was r(yukta Govinda Rm Deva Sharmm. The titl e Bha$$chryya was peculiar to the line when they predominantly performed and taught religious sacrices and worship [paurohitya]. In the line, many were also Brahminical spiritual masters with thousands of disciples. There were a number of professions adopted in the line, Transcendental History 17 20 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Indeed, the hearts of all beings, moving and still, marvel in the Glory of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h as they take shelter in the soothing, affectionate shade of the victory flag that flies aloft and sings wholeheartedly to the world the ever-expanding renown of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h; bearing that banner of all Transcendental Benedictions, r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h ever shines resplendent in all its Divine Magnicence. [Rendered into English by Trida@#i-bhik!u r( B.A. Sgar, from the Bengali translation of His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj.] r(la r(dhar Mahrj, after the departure of his Gurudev, naturally became unanimously honoured as the most exalted Representative of the Gau#(ya Succession; although he always, and openly so, considered himself as junior. By their requests, he conferred the holy order of sannysa upon many of his exalted, eminent Godbrothers, including r(la Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj, r(la Bhakti Prajn Keshav Mahrj, r(la Bhakti loka Paramaha^sa Mahrj and r(la Bhakti Kamal Madhus)dan Mahrj, r(la Nrasi^ha Mahrj, r(la Bhgavat Mahrj, r(la chryya Mahrj, etc. During a circumambulation Festival at V~ndvan, r(la Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj, the most senior preacher, and disciple of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, personally wor- shipped r(la r(dhar Mahrj with one hundred and eight lamps, and incense, etc., on the occasion of r(la r(dhar Mahrjs Appearance Day. r(la Goswm( Mahrj performed this function joined by many of his disciples and other Godbrothers. The Godbrother of His Divine Grace r(la r(dhar Mahrj, His Divine Grace r( r(la A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm( Mahrj Prabhupd, was, of course, the personality to inundate the Western world by cul- tural and spiritual tidal waves. From 1965 to 1977, he single-handedly transmitted the original Teachings of K!@a consciousness in a global proportion. His Divine Grace r(la Swm( Mahrj Prabhupd was an unprecedented, magnicent Divine Phenomenon in himself. Yet, we Once when r(la Guru Mahrj went to Giri#i at Bihr, he delivered a lecture at the Barristers Library there. After the lecture a gentleman came forward, and weeping, he said, We used to think that our ances- tors were fools, and that we have now become civilised by the associa- tion of the British. But today, Mahrj, hearing your talk, we cannot but feel how great we were, and how low we have fallen Our ancestors were so, so great, and now we have fallen into such lthy garbage On another occasion at Giri#i, at a conference, the president of the conference, a learned scholar, one Mr. Bask, remarked after hearing r(la Guru Mahrjs speech, We thought for so long now that Vai!@ava-dharmma was a branch of Hindu religion. But today, Mahrj, after what I have heard from you, with your sound argument and Scriptural evidence, we know now that Vai!@ava-Dharmma is the Original Religionthe Jaiva-Dharmma or Religion of all soulsand all others are only the misconceived portion of the original. In His Divine Grace r(la r(dhar Mahrjs own words: This must be deeply studied and considered by the learned section. The Vai!@ava- Dharmma that Mahprabhu gave is the original Vaidika-Dharmma. What r(la Rmnujchryya and r(la Madhvchryya gave has com- pletely merged into the Line of Mahprabhu. And what Lord a&kar, Lord Buddha, and Rmkrishna Mission have given is all hodgepodge. One who can properly catch the gist of this is benetted in the extreme. Sambandha-jna is a great thing; then there is Abhidheya and Prayojana. These are the essential three stages of the whole theology. Once in Bombay, r(la Guru Mahrj gave a lecture at the Theosophical Society. The subject of his talk was The Superexcellence of the Teachings of r( Chaitanya. The president, in his introductory lecture, spoke the age-old dogma that all religions are one and the same. When r(la Guru Mahrj took the stand to speak, he said: It is a very regrettable that I must rst, in order to speak on my subject, announce that I completely disagree with the president. Because to even enter into my subject, the prerequisite is the comparative study in theology. I have come to speak on not only the excellence, but the Superexcellence of the Teachings of r( Chaitanya. Therefore, I am bound to show the subject of my delivery by surpassing all the lower 18 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology stages of soil. So, in order to have your attention, I am bound to rst point out the presidents gulf of difference in his opinion with me. Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojanarst we shall make these three divisions. Sambandha [relationship] will mean to rst separate all other religious conceptions except for the Vai!@ava-Dharmma as given by r( Chaitanya MahprabhuK!@a conception, the others all being concerned only with Brahma conception, Paramtm conception, etc. Abhidheya is the means to the end; that we can hear from r(man Mahprabhu to be jna-uny Bhakti [Devotion unalloyed by intel- lect], uddha-Bhakti [Pure Devotion], in sdhu-sa&ga [association of the true devotee]. And Prayojana or the goal is Prema; but not mukti [libera- tion]. Dharmma-artha-kma-mok!a [religiosity, economy, material desire and liberation]these are not the goal. Only Prema-Sev, Loving Service to K!@a is the supreme goal. Seeing r(la r(dhar Mahrjs sensitive, rich Sanskrit Writings, his Gurudev referred to him as a t person to continue my Spiritual Succession. Seeing his keen scriptural insight, his Gurudev also adorned him with the accolade stra-nipu@a r(dhar Mahrj or Scriptural Genius r(dhar Mahrj. On another occasion his Gurudev also referred to him as nivedittm or a pure soul fully surrendered unto the Supreme Lord. Just prior to departing this world he was fully satised to hear ri R)pa-majar(padahis most beloved Song of the deepest Divine Ser- vicefrom the lips of r(la r(dhar Mahrj. r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, by virtue of this action, clearly illus- trated that r(la r(dhar Mahrj is his Chief Successor Preceptor and Representative of r(la R)pa Goswm( Prabhupd, who is the Foremost Preceptorial Apostle of r( Chaitanyadev. After the departure of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, r(la r(dhar Mahrj founded the r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h in 1941. At that time, it was no more than a thatched hut on the banks of the holy river Ganges. At that time, r(la r(dhar Mahrj composed this beautiful Sanskrit verse. The verse is a mysterious predic- tion, telling of the universal renown the r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h was to know in the future: Transcendental History 19 >lIB 44PlF4B3;I44I! 4>l < P l4 l4-4-I94l7ll l 44 >lIlPlF4B4-4l llHl H4 -4 9l- >lI4 4B4 lllHl4lHl ~ r(mach-chaitanya-sraswata-ma$havara udg(ta-k(rttir jaya-r(^ bibhrat sa^bhti ga&g-ta$a-nika$a-navadv(pa-koldri-rje yatra r(-gaura-sraswata-mata-nirat gaura-gth g~@anti nitya^ r)pnuga r(-k~tamati-guru-gaur&ga-rdh-jit In the Holy Abode of Transcendental Touchstone r( Nabadwip Dhmthe selfsame r( Vndvan, in the land of Koladwip, whose inner identity is the King of mountains r( Govarddhan, near the charming shores of the Holy River Bhg(rath( who delivers all the fallen souls stands that grand and glorious King of all Temples r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h. In that beautiful retreat, the surrendered devotees whose lives are the Message of r( Gaura, are eternally absorbed in the Loving Service of the Divine Master, the Golden Lord Gaur&ga and the Loving Lord r( Govindasundar with His Consort r(mat( Gndharvv, accompanied by all Their Beloved Associates. With hearts always lled with good hope to attain the Grace of the Lord, following faithfully in the Line of r( r( R)pa and Raghunth the Storekeepers of the Unlimited Treasure of Pure, Sweet Love Divine, those surrendered souls ever sing the unending Glories of the Transcendental Name and Qualities of the Most Magnanimous, Original Supreme Lord r( r( Gaur&gasundar. 18 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology stages of soil. So, in order to have your attention, I am bound to rst point out the presidents gulf of difference in his opinion with me. Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojanarst we shall make these three divisions. Sambandha [relationship] will mean to rst separate all other religious conceptions except for the Vai!@ava-Dharmma as given by r( Chaitanya MahprabhuK!@a conception, the others all being concerned only with Brahma conception, Paramtm conception, etc. Abhidheya is the means to the end; that we can hear from r(man Mahprabhu to be jna-uny Bhakti [Devotion unalloyed by intel- lect], uddha-Bhakti [Pure Devotion], in sdhu-sa&ga [association of the true devotee]. And Prayojana or the goal is Prema; but not mukti [libera- tion]. Dharmma-artha-kma-mok!a [religiosity, economy, material desire and liberation]these are not the goal. Only Prema-Sev, Loving Service to K!@a is the supreme goal. Seeing r(la r(dhar Mahrjs sensitive, rich Sanskrit Writings, his Gurudev referred to him as a t person to continue my Spiritual Succession. Seeing his keen scriptural insight, his Gurudev also adorned him with the accolade stra-nipu@a r(dhar Mahrj or Scriptural Genius r(dhar Mahrj. On another occasion his Gurudev also referred to him as nivedittm or a pure soul fully surrendered unto the Supreme Lord. Just prior to departing this world he was fully satised to hear ri R)pa-majar(padahis most beloved Song of the deepest Divine Ser- vicefrom the lips of r(la r(dhar Mahrj. r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, by virtue of this action, clearly illus- trated that r(la r(dhar Mahrj is his Chief Successor Preceptor and Representative of r(la R)pa Goswm( Prabhupd, who is the Foremost Preceptorial Apostle of r( Chaitanyadev. After the departure of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, r(la r(dhar Mahrj founded the r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h in 1941. At that time, it was no more than a thatched hut on the banks of the holy river Ganges. At that time, r(la r(dhar Mahrj composed this beautiful Sanskrit verse. The verse is a mysterious predic- tion, telling of the universal renown the r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h was to know in the future: Transcendental History 19 >lIB 44PlF4B3;I44I! 4>l < P l4 l4-4-I94l7ll l 44 >lIlPlF4B4-4l llHl H4 -4 9l- >lI4 4B4 lllHl4lHl ~ r(mach-chaitanya-sraswata-ma$havara udg(ta-k(rttir jaya-r(^ bibhrat sa^bhti ga&g-ta$a-nika$a-navadv(pa-koldri-rje yatra r(-gaura-sraswata-mata-nirat gaura-gth g~@anti nitya^ r)pnuga r(-k~tamati-guru-gaur&ga-rdh-jit In the Holy Abode of Transcendental Touchstone r( Nabadwip Dhmthe selfsame r( Vndvan, in the land of Koladwip, whose inner identity is the King of mountains r( Govarddhan, near the charming shores of the Holy River Bhg(rath( who delivers all the fallen souls stands that grand and glorious King of all Temples r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h. In that beautiful retreat, the surrendered devotees whose lives are the Message of r( Gaura, are eternally absorbed in the Loving Service of the Divine Master, the Golden Lord Gaur&ga and the Loving Lord r( Govindasundar with His Consort r(mat( Gndharvv, accompanied by all Their Beloved Associates. With hearts always lled with good hope to attain the Grace of the Lord, following faithfully in the Line of r( r( R)pa and Raghunth the Storekeepers of the Unlimited Treasure of Pure, Sweet Love Divine, those surrendered souls ever sing the unending Glories of the Transcendental Name and Qualities of the Most Magnanimous, Original Supreme Lord r( r( Gaur&gasundar. Transcendental History 17 20 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Indeed, the hearts of all beings, moving and still, marvel in the Glory of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h as they take shelter in the soothing, affectionate shade of the victory flag that flies aloft and sings wholeheartedly to the world the ever-expanding renown of r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h; bearing that banner of all Transcendental Benedictions, r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h ever shines resplendent in all its Divine Magnicence. [Rendered into English by Trida@#i-bhik!u r( B.A. Sgar, from the Bengali translation of His Divine Grace r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj.] r(la r(dhar Mahrj, after the departure of his Gurudev, naturally became unanimously honoured as the most exalted Representative of the Gau#(ya Succession; although he always, and openly so, considered himself as junior. By their requests, he conferred the holy order of sannysa upon many of his exalted, eminent Godbrothers, including r(la Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj, r(la Bhakti Prajn Keshav Mahrj, r(la Bhakti loka Paramaha^sa Mahrj and r(la Bhakti Kamal Madhus)dan Mahrj, r(la Nrasi^ha Mahrj, r(la Bhgavat Mahrj, r(la chryya Mahrj, etc. During a circumambulation Festival at V~ndvan, r(la Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj, the most senior preacher, and disciple of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd, personally wor- shipped r(la r(dhar Mahrj with one hundred and eight lamps, and incense, etc., on the occasion of r(la r(dhar Mahrjs Appearance Day. r(la Goswm( Mahrj performed this function joined by many of his disciples and other Godbrothers. The Godbrother of His Divine Grace r(la r(dhar Mahrj, His Divine Grace r( r(la A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm( Mahrj Prabhupd, was, of course, the personality to inundate the Western world by cul- tural and spiritual tidal waves. From 1965 to 1977, he single-handedly transmitted the original Teachings of K!@a consciousness in a global proportion. His Divine Grace r(la Swm( Mahrj Prabhupd was an unprecedented, magnicent Divine Phenomenon in himself. Yet, we Once when r(la Guru Mahrj went to Giri#i at Bihr, he delivered a lecture at the Barristers Library there. After the lecture a gentleman came forward, and weeping, he said, We used to think that our ances- tors were fools, and that we have now become civilised by the associa- tion of the British. But today, Mahrj, hearing your talk, we cannot but feel how great we were, and how low we have fallen Our ancestors were so, so great, and now we have fallen into such lthy garbage On another occasion at Giri#i, at a conference, the president of the conference, a learned scholar, one Mr. Bask, remarked after hearing r(la Guru Mahrjs speech, We thought for so long now that Vai!@ava-dharmma was a branch of Hindu religion. But today, Mahrj, after what I have heard from you, with your sound argument and Scriptural evidence, we know now that Vai!@ava-Dharmma is the Original Religionthe Jaiva-Dharmma or Religion of all soulsand all others are only the misconceived portion of the original. In His Divine Grace r(la r(dhar Mahrjs own words: This must be deeply studied and considered by the learned section. The Vai!@ava- Dharmma that Mahprabhu gave is the original Vaidika-Dharmma. What r(la Rmnujchryya and r(la Madhvchryya gave has com- pletely merged into the Line of Mahprabhu. And what Lord a&kar, Lord Buddha, and Rmkrishna Mission have given is all hodgepodge. One who can properly catch the gist of this is benetted in the extreme. Sambandha-jna is a great thing; then there is Abhidheya and Prayojana. These are the essential three stages of the whole theology. Once in Bombay, r(la Guru Mahrj gave a lecture at the Theosophical Society. The subject of his talk was The Superexcellence of the Teachings of r( Chaitanya. The president, in his introductory lecture, spoke the age-old dogma that all religions are one and the same. When r(la Guru Mahrj took the stand to speak, he said: It is a very regrettable that I must rst, in order to speak on my subject, announce that I completely disagree with the president. Because to even enter into my subject, the prerequisite is the comparative study in theology. I have come to speak on not only the excellence, but the Superexcellence of the Teachings of r( Chaitanya. Therefore, I am bound to show the subject of my delivery by surpassing all the lower 24 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology heard from him personally, and history has recorded it, that he had only about ten days of association with his Gurudev, r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd. But he had long and intimate associa- tion from his time of initiation all through, with the most intimate of all his Godbrothers, r(la r(dhar Mahrj. Later, when r(la Guru Mahrj was over 80, thousands of persons from all over the world took the pilgrimage to r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h, in Nabadwip, India. He accepted some thousands of persons from all over as his disciples. And he handed their charge over to his intimate attendant and associate-servitor, and his personally selected successor, chryyadev r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. It is indeed the greatest fortune for the world that [at the time of this printing] r(la Govinda Mahrj, since 1992, has now completed his fth World Tour, preaching the Religion of humility, selessness, and tolerance. It is the fulllment of the hearts desire of our beloved Master r(la Guru Mahrj. As I mentioned in the beginning, the Ocean of the Pastimes of r(la Guru Mahrj is unlimited. How many drops of that ocean can a mere sparrow extract? In this world, time is not on our side. Ordered by my Gurudev, I have triedin my own random wayto present some of these drops of honey for the bumblebee devotees of the Lord. I pray there is no offence in my doing so. If I do not try, that will also be an offence. Whoever hears the nectarean Divine Pastimes and Teachings of r(la Guru Mahrj cannot but attain the Supreme Wealth of life itselfLove for the Supreme Lord r( K!@a. Before closing this chapter, two other incidences suddenly come to mind. After the disappearance of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Prabhupd, there were major struggles. They were always resolved and harmonised by r(la Guru Mahrj. r(la Guru Mahrj was loved by all. Once during that period, a very learned devotee personality who was considered an adversary of r(la Guru Mahrj, came to visit him. In fact, he had a habit of visiting r(la Guru Mahrj quite often. That day, r(la Guru Mahrj asked him, Transcendental History 21 I had a very good memory, especially in Sanskrit. I was taught a loka in praise of Lord ivaF"I I I4+ , and I could chant that by memory. When I was one year eight months, my grandfather died, but I cant remember him. My earliest recollection is an earthquake. I was born in 1302, Mohammedan era, and 1304 in the month of Vaikh there was an earthquake. I was only a child then of one year and eight months or so, but I remember that. I remember the shaking of the earth, so many cows gathered, and so onthis is my earliest recollection. Then, my rst brother was born when I was three. I remember the scene of the birth of my brother, around August, 1898. I can also remember when I reached the age of ve and I was engaged in studying writing, and I was given to my maternal uncles house. Many things before that I can remember as well. And when I was in my maternal uncles house, for three years for early education in a primary school, I got some help from one of my aunts who taught me Rmya@a and Mahbhrata. That helped me a great deal. Already I had some afnity for all those things, some type of intuitive knowledge and partiality to ancient mythological teachings and culture of the orthodox section. From very childhood my tendency was with the culture of the orthodox sectionVeda, Upani!ad, etc., faith in Godall these things. At nine years I was admitted into high school [intermediate accord- ing to the current system in India]. As a student, there in the debating club I always sided with the ancient stric culture, even against the teachers that took up the cause of the renaissance or reformation. I was always on the side of the previous culture. I fought with them, and I dont think they could defeat me. Then I got my sacred thread in the family tradition when I was fourteen years. I feel that my memory was more or less quite sharp. I could remember what I saw and heard in my early age. I am told that I had a general tendency that if anyone would come to ask me something, I would reply, No. Whatever would be asked of me, No. But once, when one of our family-members, a scholar, went to appear for his examination, he came to ask me whether he would pass or not. I pronounced, Yes. And he won a scholarship. Then I matricu- II1/kj.tek6. iryA All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga Chapter Three r(la Guru Mahrj Remembers [From a recorded conversation with His Divine Grace] {Edited by r(pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj} I was born at midnight, Saturday 10th October, 1895. Navam( tithi [lunar day] under the same sign as Lord Rmchandra. K!@a-pak!a [dark moon fortnight]. r(man Mahprabhu was also born on a Saturday. I was the second child. The rst was a daughter, but she died early, so Rm Kavach [a protective mantram and amulet] was given to my mother for the protection of the next child, that is, myself. So I was born after my mother took Rm Kavach. There were two thatched rooms, one of which was the maternity room. Because the rst child had been lost, after I was born and my mother was still conned within the maternity area, just in the front of that place my two English-knowing cousins kept night watch to make sure that any ghosts or something like that may not come in the shape of a cat, or in any other way. So as they were reading and studying, they would protect the rst half of the night. They were B.A.s studying for M.A. And during the second half or last portion of the night two Sanskrit students, one cousin and another an uncle, sat there just in front of that temporary shed, reading, to guard against any unseen attack at that time. They all kept night watch. Then, as I remember, when I was a boy being carried on the shoul- der of my father, there was going in the distance one Sa&k(rttan party; crying, I asked him to take me there. Anyway, to console me he took me there for some time and then came back. 22 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology You are supposed to be a member of the oppositionist party to me. Why are you always coming here to see me? That devotee personality immediately replied, Because of your disinterested nature, super intelligence, and strong common sense. r(la K!@ads Bbj( Mahrj often visited r(la Guru Mahrjs birthplace r( Hpniy. He would ask the villagers, did r(dhar Mahrj study at school here? Did he bathe in this pond here? and so on, and so on. One day r(la Guru Mahrj asked him, You are my Godbrother; why are you so often visiting my birthplace? What is the reason? r(la Bbj( Mahrj replied, Because your writings are non-differ- ent from the writings of r(la R)pa Goswm(. So Im going there to take the dust of the land of your Pastimes on my head. C entenar year - II1/kj.tek6. iryA All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga Chapter Three r(la Guru Mahrj Remembers [From a recorded conversation with His Divine Grace] {Edited by r(pd Bhakti nanda Sgar Mahrj} I was born at midnight, Saturday 10th October, 1895. Navam( tithi [lunar day] under the same sign as Lord Rmchandra. K!@a-pak!a [dark moon fortnight]. r(man Mahprabhu was also born on a Saturday. I was the second child. The rst was a daughter, but she died early, so Rm Kavach [a protective mantram and amulet] was given to my mother for the protection of the next child, that is, myself. So I was born after my mother took Rm Kavach. There were two thatched rooms, one of which was the maternity room. Because the rst child had been lost, after I was born and my mother was still conned within the maternity area, just in the front of that place my two English-knowing cousins kept night watch to make sure that any ghosts or something like that may not come in the shape of a cat, or in any other way. So as they were reading and studying, they would protect the rst half of the night. They were B.A.s studying for M.A. And during the second half or last portion of the night two Sanskrit students, one cousin and another an uncle, sat there just in front of that temporary shed, reading, to guard against any unseen attack at that time. They all kept night watch. Then, as I remember, when I was a boy being carried on the shoul- der of my father, there was going in the distance one Sa&k(rttan party; crying, I asked him to take me there. Anyway, to console me he took me there for some time and then came back. 22 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology You are supposed to be a member of the oppositionist party to me. Why are you always coming here to see me? That devotee personality immediately replied, Because of your disinterested nature, super intelligence, and strong common sense. r(la K!@ads Bbj( Mahrj often visited r(la Guru Mahrjs birthplace r( Hpniy. He would ask the villagers, did r(dhar Mahrj study at school here? Did he bathe in this pond here? and so on, and so on. One day r(la Guru Mahrj asked him, You are my Godbrother; why are you so often visiting my birthplace? What is the reason? r(la Bbj( Mahrj replied, Because your writings are non-differ- ent from the writings of r(la R)pa Goswm(. So Im going there to take the dust of the land of your Pastimes on my head. C entenar year - 24 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology heard from him personally, and history has recorded it, that he had only about ten days of association with his Gurudev, r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm( Prabhupd. But he had long and intimate associa- tion from his time of initiation all through, with the most intimate of all his Godbrothers, r(la r(dhar Mahrj. Later, when r(la Guru Mahrj was over 80, thousands of persons from all over the world took the pilgrimage to r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h, in Nabadwip, India. He accepted some thousands of persons from all over as his disciples. And he handed their charge over to his intimate attendant and associate-servitor, and his personally selected successor, chryyadev r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. It is indeed the greatest fortune for the world that [at the time of this printing] r(la Govinda Mahrj, since 1992, has now completed his fth World Tour, preaching the Religion of humility, selessness, and tolerance. It is the fulllment of the hearts desire of our beloved Master r(la Guru Mahrj. As I mentioned in the beginning, the Ocean of the Pastimes of r(la Guru Mahrj is unlimited. How many drops of that ocean can a mere sparrow extract? In this world, time is not on our side. Ordered by my Gurudev, I have triedin my own random wayto present some of these drops of honey for the bumblebee devotees of the Lord. I pray there is no offence in my doing so. If I do not try, that will also be an offence. Whoever hears the nectarean Divine Pastimes and Teachings of r(la Guru Mahrj cannot but attain the Supreme Wealth of life itselfLove for the Supreme Lord r( K!@a. Before closing this chapter, two other incidences suddenly come to mind. After the disappearance of r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Prabhupd, there were major struggles. They were always resolved and harmonised by r(la Guru Mahrj. r(la Guru Mahrj was loved by all. Once during that period, a very learned devotee personality who was considered an adversary of r(la Guru Mahrj, came to visit him. In fact, he had a habit of visiting r(la Guru Mahrj quite often. That day, r(la Guru Mahrj asked him, Transcendental History 21 I had a very good memory, especially in Sanskrit. I was taught a loka in praise of Lord ivaF"I I I4+ , and I could chant that by memory. When I was one year eight months, my grandfather died, but I cant remember him. My earliest recollection is an earthquake. I was born in 1302, Mohammedan era, and 1304 in the month of Vaikh there was an earthquake. I was only a child then of one year and eight months or so, but I remember that. I remember the shaking of the earth, so many cows gathered, and so onthis is my earliest recollection. Then, my rst brother was born when I was three. I remember the scene of the birth of my brother, around August, 1898. I can also remember when I reached the age of ve and I was engaged in studying writing, and I was given to my maternal uncles house. Many things before that I can remember as well. And when I was in my maternal uncles house, for three years for early education in a primary school, I got some help from one of my aunts who taught me Rmya@a and Mahbhrata. That helped me a great deal. Already I had some afnity for all those things, some type of intuitive knowledge and partiality to ancient mythological teachings and culture of the orthodox section. From very childhood my tendency was with the culture of the orthodox sectionVeda, Upani!ad, etc., faith in Godall these things. At nine years I was admitted into high school [intermediate accord- ing to the current system in India]. As a student, there in the debating club I always sided with the ancient stric culture, even against the teachers that took up the cause of the renaissance or reformation. I was always on the side of the previous culture. I fought with them, and I dont think they could defeat me. Then I got my sacred thread in the family tradition when I was fourteen years. I feel that my memory was more or less quite sharp. I could remember what I saw and heard in my early age. I am told that I had a general tendency that if anyone would come to ask me something, I would reply, No. Whatever would be asked of me, No. But once, when one of our family-members, a scholar, went to appear for his examination, he came to ask me whether he would pass or not. I pronounced, Yes. And he won a scholarship. Then I matricu- rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 25 28 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Chaitanyadev has created a chaotic society. Pests that cannot keep their own stand in the social positionit is they who gather to follow Chaitanyadev. Those who have lost their social position become Vai!@avas and they say that they are followers of Chaitanya. In my fathers family they held such a hatred. But after this I became fully converted into a follower of Chaitanya. Such a feeling came in me, not only intellectu- ally, but in heart and mind also. I underwent a wholesale conversion. Then my father died. He was disappointed and dejected. I was the eldest son; he had some hope in me for family matters, but when he saw such a change in me, it may be said that he died almost heartbroken. The burden of the family also came on my mind, but my state of mind was somewhere else. The chance came to me to lead a life of abnegation. For one year the son wont use any umbrella or shoes. I made some extreme additionI used nothing but one piece of cloth and a sheet for one year. And half-mad I used to do agriculture work and service to the cows. Anyway, I passed B>A> The Baharampur section where I appeared, my classmates, said this was a wholesale massacre Very few could pass, but somehow I passed. Some of my classmates said, Oh, by the method of worshipping and satisfying God he has passed He did not study at all but he passed, only by worshipping God. They said like this. When my father died, almost with full consciousness he passed awayhe told several things to me. One was that I would have to marry. I had never uttered a lie. Whatever the effect, I strictly spoke the truth. But I couldnt commit myself before him. So I felt pressured Whether you marry or not dont disturb me in this time of my death. Say that you will do it. Anyhow, the expression came from me, I shall try to fulll your request. In this way, in a modied way, I answered him. Then anyhow, I had to marry. Married life continued for six years. In the meantime I went to study again in the law class. But the Gandhi movement of non-cooperation came forward and I joined the move- ment, because there was some sort of promise that within one year I shall give svarj [independence] to you. I wanted to become a sannys(, but the countrymen want one year, so I thought I must sacrice this for them. I left law college and worked for some time posted as a secretary of the movement here in Kln. lated from the local High School when I was fteen years of age. I could write Sanskrit verse before that. I like sacrice in life. The magnanimous side. I had afnity for Lord Rmchandra, for the model Pastimes, but not so much Lord K!@a, because of His Vndvan L(l. I could not accommodate why God should be a liar and a girl-hunter. I could not accommodate this. Though I saw Rdh-Govinda M)rttis [Deities]They seemed to be very, very charming. I found some mystic background there, but on the surface, I had more liking for Rmchandra than K!@a. My attraction to K!@a rst came through Bhagavad-G(t, and then through Mahprabhu. I liked Rmchandra for His magnanimity. I was mainly attracted by the self-giving ideal. So I liked Rdhr@( very much, I liked Mahprabhu very much, but my attraction to K!@a was less. My attraction to K!@a came through Mahprabhu and through Rdhr@(from Their side. When I was nine or ten or so, there was a temple where Rdh-K!@a Deities were installed in Jagadnanda Pur, near K$w. Every year in Krttik month my father used to read r(mad-Bhgavatam there. Sometimes I visited that temple with him, and I found some mystic atmosphere there. It seemed very mystical to me. After matriculation I went to Baharampur [District Mush(rabd] for college study at the Krishnanth College. There, with the company of one of my cousins, my maternal uncles son, I came into connection with the East Bengal people, who were renowned, we had heard, for their boldness and sacricing nature. I took residence in the same hostel as them. Somehow, I had passed matriculation second division, [r(la Guru Mahrj had suffered a very dangerous bout of maleria for a whole year at that time. Ed.] but I passed I.A. [Intermediate Arts] in the rst division. When we were studying in the local school, we had to do some family works along with our study. But now, from the hostel, I passed in the rst division. Then I was again admitted in that same college at Baharampur. After the fourth year we sat for the examination of B.A. When I was a student of the fourth year I came into the connection of a younger boy who had rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 27 26 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology just passed matriculation and was newly admitted into the college. In the college I found that there was a small section of students who were addicted to some meditation and p)j, etc. And there was another group that did not care for worshipping, but they liked the service of patients, and to do good for the public. But I have an internal nature for both. I was a fourth-year student and that boy was a rst-year student three years gap. I found that he was given to both sides very intensely; taking the Name of the Lord sometimes very loudly like a madman, and also doing sandhy-vandan [regular morning, noon and evening prayers and worship] etc. At the same time, when there was any patient he would engage himself in their service, even neglecting to attend the college class. Both sidessocial service as well as worship were combined in him. Before this, when I was in school I got a book where it is mentioned that if we can go on with the japam [meditational chanting] of Gyattr( 432 times daily, we can achieve a very good spiritual improvement. I practised that for some time, and at that time I tried my best to under- stand the revealed truthwithout consulting any dictionary or gram- mar; I had heard that Gyattr( is conscious, spiritual, not dead words. So, if I go on with japam Gyattr( itself will express its meaning and purpose. I approached it with that attitude, and I used to feel some light coming from the words of Gyattr( itself; I had some knowledge about that for some time. Then, as I said, I came in connection with that boy in college, and I tried to associate with him. His name was r( Suresh Bha$$chryyahe came from a Brhma@a family of Faridpur. The founder of the Bhrat- sevshram, r( Pra@avnanda, was from his village. r(pd Madhus)dan Mahrj also comes from the same villageBjepratp-pur in the dis- trict of Faridpur. One day, when we two were going on a morning walk and also cleaning our teeth with small twigs, he referred to his father with the expression, that gentleman. I took exception to that. Why do you use this expression for your father? You say that gentle- man? What is this He said, Yes, I have committed a wrong; I shouldnt have spoken in this way before you. But really it is like that. That gentlemanhe was a gentleman, and in this life I came to him and he has protected me for some time, and in the next life I shall go to some other place; in this way we are moving hither and thither, coming to some gentleman and from there to another gentleman... Although I gave opposition, that point hit me very hard. I began to think, Yes, it is true. We are in the midst of father, mother, brother, or, as he said, that gentleman. What real connection have I with them, or they with me? We are all almost like strangers Thinking and thinking on this point the whole world became as vacant. I felt a furious atmos- phere, with no shelter to take anywhere. A chaotic position, and I have no position of stability. Wherefrom am I coming, where to go, how long am I to stay herethis is a point in the innite. I am an uncertain point in the whole of the innite. A great shock came to me in this way. And that was the great turn in my life. The worldly achievement has no value. I was studying, a fourth-year student. I was to appear in a few months for the nal examination. My friends were alarmed at seeing my position. What are you doing? You are neglecting your studies How will you be able to pass? Your father is sending money [for your education]; you are not so rich. In this way they tried their best to help me but I couldnt concen- trate on any book of study. They said, If you cant do so, we shall read and you try to hear. At that time, my friend gave me some literature on Mahprabhus Life and Teachings, and I devoured it like nectar. I found some position thereit is not that I am nowhere. Here is the supportthe basis, the foundation; I found here the sustenance, hope and shelter I needed. In this way I began to read and read. My very nature was that what- ever I read, I read scrutinisingly. It may be slow, but my reading is more or less very accurate and representing the true aspect. I could also hear very clearly. Even without reading, acute hearing was also a part of my nature . Whatever I heard, I could grasp the very purpose and keep it within me. And here also by thorough reading I found my life, my future hope, everything. I was converted. In my mothers family there was some recognition of r( Chaitanyadev, but my paternal family were orthodox smrttas. They hated the followers of Chaitanyadev. rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 27 26 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology just passed matriculation and was newly admitted into the college. In the college I found that there was a small section of students who were addicted to some meditation and p)j, etc. And there was another group that did not care for worshipping, but they liked the service of patients, and to do good for the public. But I have an internal nature for both. I was a fourth-year student and that boy was a rst-year student three years gap. I found that he was given to both sides very intensely; taking the Name of the Lord sometimes very loudly like a madman, and also doing sandhy-vandan [regular morning, noon and evening prayers and worship] etc. At the same time, when there was any patient he would engage himself in their service, even neglecting to attend the college class. Both sidessocial service as well as worship were combined in him. Before this, when I was in school I got a book where it is mentioned that if we can go on with the japam [meditational chanting] of Gyattr( 432 times daily, we can achieve a very good spiritual improvement. I practised that for some time, and at that time I tried my best to under- stand the revealed truthwithout consulting any dictionary or gram- mar; I had heard that Gyattr( is conscious, spiritual, not dead words. So, if I go on with japam Gyattr( itself will express its meaning and purpose. I approached it with that attitude, and I used to feel some light coming from the words of Gyattr( itself; I had some knowledge about that for some time. Then, as I said, I came in connection with that boy in college, and I tried to associate with him. His name was r( Suresh Bha$$chryyahe came from a Brhma@a family of Faridpur. The founder of the Bhrat- sevshram, r( Pra@avnanda, was from his village. r(pd Madhus)dan Mahrj also comes from the same villageBjepratp-pur in the dis- trict of Faridpur. One day, when we two were going on a morning walk and also cleaning our teeth with small twigs, he referred to his father with the expression, that gentleman. I took exception to that. Why do you use this expression for your father? You say that gentle- man? What is this He said, Yes, I have committed a wrong; I shouldnt have spoken in this way before you. But really it is like that. That gentlemanhe was a gentleman, and in this life I came to him and he has protected me for some time, and in the next life I shall go to some other place; in this way we are moving hither and thither, coming to some gentleman and from there to another gentleman... Although I gave opposition, that point hit me very hard. I began to think, Yes, it is true. We are in the midst of father, mother, brother, or, as he said, that gentleman. What real connection have I with them, or they with me? We are all almost like strangers Thinking and thinking on this point the whole world became as vacant. I felt a furious atmos- phere, with no shelter to take anywhere. A chaotic position, and I have no position of stability. Wherefrom am I coming, where to go, how long am I to stay herethis is a point in the innite. I am an uncertain point in the whole of the innite. A great shock came to me in this way. And that was the great turn in my life. The worldly achievement has no value. I was studying, a fourth-year student. I was to appear in a few months for the nal examination. My friends were alarmed at seeing my position. What are you doing? You are neglecting your studies How will you be able to pass? Your father is sending money [for your education]; you are not so rich. In this way they tried their best to help me but I couldnt concen- trate on any book of study. They said, If you cant do so, we shall read and you try to hear. At that time, my friend gave me some literature on Mahprabhus Life and Teachings, and I devoured it like nectar. I found some position thereit is not that I am nowhere. Here is the supportthe basis, the foundation; I found here the sustenance, hope and shelter I needed. In this way I began to read and read. My very nature was that what- ever I read, I read scrutinisingly. It may be slow, but my reading is more or less very accurate and representing the true aspect. I could also hear very clearly. Even without reading, acute hearing was also a part of my nature . Whatever I heard, I could grasp the very purpose and keep it within me. And here also by thorough reading I found my life, my future hope, everything. I was converted. In my mothers family there was some recognition of r( Chaitanyadev, but my paternal family were orthodox smrttas. They hated the followers of Chaitanyadev. rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 25 28 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Chaitanyadev has created a chaotic society. Pests that cannot keep their own stand in the social positionit is they who gather to follow Chaitanyadev. Those who have lost their social position become Vai!@avas and they say that they are followers of Chaitanya. In my fathers family they held such a hatred. But after this I became fully converted into a follower of Chaitanya. Such a feeling came in me, not only intellectu- ally, but in heart and mind also. I underwent a wholesale conversion. Then my father died. He was disappointed and dejected. I was the eldest son; he had some hope in me for family matters, but when he saw such a change in me, it may be said that he died almost heartbroken. The burden of the family also came on my mind, but my state of mind was somewhere else. The chance came to me to lead a life of abnegation. For one year the son wont use any umbrella or shoes. I made some extreme additionI used nothing but one piece of cloth and a sheet for one year. And half-mad I used to do agriculture work and service to the cows. Anyway, I passed B>A> The Baharampur section where I appeared, my classmates, said this was a wholesale massacre Very few could pass, but somehow I passed. Some of my classmates said, Oh, by the method of worshipping and satisfying God he has passed He did not study at all but he passed, only by worshipping God. They said like this. When my father died, almost with full consciousness he passed awayhe told several things to me. One was that I would have to marry. I had never uttered a lie. Whatever the effect, I strictly spoke the truth. But I couldnt commit myself before him. So I felt pressured Whether you marry or not dont disturb me in this time of my death. Say that you will do it. Anyhow, the expression came from me, I shall try to fulll your request. In this way, in a modied way, I answered him. Then anyhow, I had to marry. Married life continued for six years. In the meantime I went to study again in the law class. But the Gandhi movement of non-cooperation came forward and I joined the move- ment, because there was some sort of promise that within one year I shall give svarj [independence] to you. I wanted to become a sannys(, but the countrymen want one year, so I thought I must sacrice this for them. I left law college and worked for some time posted as a secretary of the movement here in Kln. lated from the local High School when I was fteen years of age. I could write Sanskrit verse before that. I like sacrice in life. The magnanimous side. I had afnity for Lord Rmchandra, for the model Pastimes, but not so much Lord K!@a, because of His Vndvan L(l. I could not accommodate why God should be a liar and a girl-hunter. I could not accommodate this. Though I saw Rdh-Govinda M)rttis [Deities]They seemed to be very, very charming. I found some mystic background there, but on the surface, I had more liking for Rmchandra than K!@a. My attraction to K!@a rst came through Bhagavad-G(t, and then through Mahprabhu. I liked Rmchandra for His magnanimity. I was mainly attracted by the self-giving ideal. So I liked Rdhr@( very much, I liked Mahprabhu very much, but my attraction to K!@a was less. My attraction to K!@a came through Mahprabhu and through Rdhr@(from Their side. When I was nine or ten or so, there was a temple where Rdh-K!@a Deities were installed in Jagadnanda Pur, near K$w. Every year in Krttik month my father used to read r(mad-Bhgavatam there. Sometimes I visited that temple with him, and I found some mystic atmosphere there. It seemed very mystical to me. After matriculation I went to Baharampur [District Mush(rabd] for college study at the Krishnanth College. There, with the company of one of my cousins, my maternal uncles son, I came into connection with the East Bengal people, who were renowned, we had heard, for their boldness and sacricing nature. I took residence in the same hostel as them. Somehow, I had passed matriculation second division, [r(la Guru Mahrj had suffered a very dangerous bout of maleria for a whole year at that time. Ed.] but I passed I.A. [Intermediate Arts] in the rst division. When we were studying in the local school, we had to do some family works along with our study. But now, from the hostel, I passed in the rst division. Then I was again admitted in that same college at Baharampur. After the fourth year we sat for the examination of B.A. When I was a student of the fourth year I came into the connection of a younger boy who had rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 29 32 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology He again came to me, and said, Guru Mahrj said, have you got something to ask? No, I have nothing to ask. He again returned to Guru Mahrj. He says he has nothing to ask. Then again Guru Mahrj put, He has got some purpose in mind for coming here. The person returned to me. I said, Yes, without purpose no incident can happen. When I have come, I have some purpose. What purpose? To gain the grace of you all. That was my answer. aenfet xsmy , Nothing else but that. Perhaps that touched Guru Mahrj. He approached me and enquired from me who I was, what I did, where was my home and so on. And then he said, Yes, you are fortunate. You are born in the area of Gau#a-ma@#al. They had one booklet printed then and the attending person said, Guru Mahrj is offering this booklet to you. I said, I already have it. He said, That does not matter; with his good will he is giving this to you, so it is something else. You take it. Then I took it on my head and accepted it. That was the rst talk with Guru Mahrj. The following year I was invited to r(man Mahprabhu s Appearance Ceremony at Mypur. At that time I was visiting the Ma$h and hearing. I went there for the Ceremony. At that time my mother was also inviting me to the village Gumo where she was staying with my second brother. She wanted to see me before going to Haridwr, and the Gau#(ya Ma$h people were also inviting me to Mypur. I was in a dilemma. What to do? It was my mothers calland maybe the last. She might not live, her health was not good. This was the call. And I thought, I want to take this side in my life, so this side must be given preference. That is, I avoided the call of my mother to see her, and I went to the Gau#(ya Ma$h instead. In this way, and sometimes in the village for two or three years. Then it was stopped for some time, and later I was wanted for service in Calcutta. With the help of a government ofce superintendent I got some vocation and I put up in Calcutta. I attended the ofce there. My attraction stays always towards Mahprabhu. In the meantime I wandered here and there searching for a sdhu from whom to take ini- tiation. But I couldnt select anyone to my taste or satisfaction. One day, I was returning from the ofce and I found a placard in Chittaranjan Avenue: Gau#(ya Ma$h Mahotsav [Grand Festival] for one month. The address was given, near the Pareshnth Temple. I found this red-coloured placard. I thought, Gau#(ya Ma$h must be Mahprabhus followers, let us go and see what is there. When I was a law student, through Suresh Bha$$chryya I knew the founder of Bhrat-Sevshram, r( Pra@avnanda, and he tried his best to take me into his mission; but I atly refused. My head is sold to Mahprabhu, Gaur&ga, so I cant go anywhere else. He said, I also have great reverence for Mahprabhu Chaitanyadev, but I think the rst stage must be Buddhistic abnegation or vairgya and indifference [to the world]. Second, a&kars Vednta or jna. And the last and highest will be Chaitanyas Prema. Otherwise people will mis- understand that Prema for lust. I replied, Yes, what you say is alrightthat r( Chaitanyadevs Prema-dharmma is the highest, above the Buddhistic and a&karite con- ceptions of theism. But Chaitanyadev has not told us, Go to the Buddhists and practice vairgya, and then go to a&kar and have knowl- edge of the Vednta, and then come to Me. He has told that wherever you are, take the association of a sdhu and you can take the Name. He was silenced. I said to him, If you have got any supernatural power, I will be grateful if you can say where my spiritual guide, my Gurudev, is. But he took the name of some gentleman, Haranth. I went to search for him but could not nd him. But this was when I found that placard and went to Gau#(ya Ma$h. There I found only one gentleman manning the outside hall, and the rest had all gone on procession of rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 31 30 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Nagar-sa&k(rttan [congregational chanting in the town]. Then I had a little talk with that gentleman. I had studied somewhat about Chaitanyadev and other Scriptures, but I found that these people repre- senting the Ma$h had deeper and more sound knowledge than I. Then, the party came back from Nagar-sa&k(rttan and I found Guru Mahrj in front with his da@#a [mendicants staff]. As soon as he reached in front of the Ma$h some disciple came and took the da@#a from him and gradually he was received there. At rst sight I found Guru Mahrjs attitude was that of complete indifference to the ordinary world. He does not care for anyone, he is self-sufcient. I got that sort of impression from his rst sight. Then I began visiting. Gradually I came to realize that I wanted to stay in such company. Unfortunately I had been unable to nd it before, but now the thought came to me, whats to stop me coming and staying here? I cast my glance homewardfather gone, mother living, three younger broth- ersthey wont be much affected. But my wife will be affected. I dont know why, but a sudden thought came in my mind that if she dies, I am free. This thought came. I was attracted by that association. There were so many members of gentlemanly and educated nature, and wholly given to the Service of Mahprabhu. That attracted me most. And it was that very day, I came to my quarter and found that my wife was ill. I came home that night, and after three days she passed away. My mother tried to have me married again, but she could not do so. And within six months she also disappeared in Haridwr at the time of the Kumbha Mel. She died there. One of my brothers, Satyen, was attending her with other pilgrims and sisters, etc. I was free. I was visiting the Ma$h. I was thinking that I must cast my faith here, so I thought it necessary to know as much as possible about the mission; and to know the mission means to know the leader of the mission. So I tried to go upstairs to where Guru Mahrj stayed. I would go in front of his room and sit there to hear, because I was think- ing I shall join here. Then one day, it so occurred that K(rtannanda Prabhu, one brahmachr(, stopped me when I was making an attempt to go upstairs. Where are you going? Im going to Guru Mahrj. I like it very much [to hear and associate]. No, never. You must stay here in the waiting room, and when you nd anyone you will inform him who you want to meet. He will check, and when he returns with the answer you can go. Otherwise you must stay here. Never cross this threshold. A little harsh. Then I thought, What should be the considerate nature of the sdhus? Why should there be any difference outwardly and inwardly? So I need not come here again But at that very moment the position of ukadev appeared in my mind. I had read in Mahbhrata that r(la Vysadev sent r(la ukadev Goswm( to Rajar!i Janak to nish his education or sdhana. r(la ukadev came, and he was detained for seven days at the outer gate. Then information went to Janak, who sanctioned, Allow him to pass the gate. The next gate, he was again detained. In this way, there were seven boundaries of the capital, and at each of the seven gates he was detained for seven days. So seven times seven means forty-nine days he was detained, and only then he could meet Janak. This thought came in my mind. And then the next concluding thought came, If there is any- thing bad here, and they take me and put me onto a throne to worship me, I should not come here; and if there is real good, and they beat with a broomstick, I must not leave That conclusion came in my mind, and I kept visiting. Then one day, Guru Mahrj was strolling on the roof just after hav- ing taken his afternoon food. Generally he did not take any food at night. I just approached, and took my stand in a corner. One man was attending him. Guru Mahrj asked, mu mwef b#b"Has he something to say? The attending person came and asked me, Have you something to say? No. I have nothing to say. He went back. He says he has nothing to say. Then Guru Mahrj said, He has something to ask? rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 31 30 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Nagar-sa&k(rttan [congregational chanting in the town]. Then I had a little talk with that gentleman. I had studied somewhat about Chaitanyadev and other Scriptures, but I found that these people repre- senting the Ma$h had deeper and more sound knowledge than I. Then, the party came back from Nagar-sa&k(rttan and I found Guru Mahrj in front with his da@#a [mendicants staff]. As soon as he reached in front of the Ma$h some disciple came and took the da@#a from him and gradually he was received there. At rst sight I found Guru Mahrjs attitude was that of complete indifference to the ordinary world. He does not care for anyone, he is self-sufcient. I got that sort of impression from his rst sight. Then I began visiting. Gradually I came to realize that I wanted to stay in such company. Unfortunately I had been unable to nd it before, but now the thought came to me, whats to stop me coming and staying here? I cast my glance homewardfather gone, mother living, three younger broth- ersthey wont be much affected. But my wife will be affected. I dont know why, but a sudden thought came in my mind that if she dies, I am free. This thought came. I was attracted by that association. There were so many members of gentlemanly and educated nature, and wholly given to the Service of Mahprabhu. That attracted me most. And it was that very day, I came to my quarter and found that my wife was ill. I came home that night, and after three days she passed away. My mother tried to have me married again, but she could not do so. And within six months she also disappeared in Haridwr at the time of the Kumbha Mel. She died there. One of my brothers, Satyen, was attending her with other pilgrims and sisters, etc. I was free. I was visiting the Ma$h. I was thinking that I must cast my faith here, so I thought it necessary to know as much as possible about the mission; and to know the mission means to know the leader of the mission. So I tried to go upstairs to where Guru Mahrj stayed. I would go in front of his room and sit there to hear, because I was think- ing I shall join here. Then one day, it so occurred that K(rtannanda Prabhu, one brahmachr(, stopped me when I was making an attempt to go upstairs. Where are you going? Im going to Guru Mahrj. I like it very much [to hear and associate]. No, never. You must stay here in the waiting room, and when you nd anyone you will inform him who you want to meet. He will check, and when he returns with the answer you can go. Otherwise you must stay here. Never cross this threshold. A little harsh. Then I thought, What should be the considerate nature of the sdhus? Why should there be any difference outwardly and inwardly? So I need not come here again But at that very moment the position of ukadev appeared in my mind. I had read in Mahbhrata that r(la Vysadev sent r(la ukadev Goswm( to Rajar!i Janak to nish his education or sdhana. r(la ukadev came, and he was detained for seven days at the outer gate. Then information went to Janak, who sanctioned, Allow him to pass the gate. The next gate, he was again detained. In this way, there were seven boundaries of the capital, and at each of the seven gates he was detained for seven days. So seven times seven means forty-nine days he was detained, and only then he could meet Janak. This thought came in my mind. And then the next concluding thought came, If there is any- thing bad here, and they take me and put me onto a throne to worship me, I should not come here; and if there is real good, and they beat with a broomstick, I must not leave That conclusion came in my mind, and I kept visiting. Then one day, Guru Mahrj was strolling on the roof just after hav- ing taken his afternoon food. Generally he did not take any food at night. I just approached, and took my stand in a corner. One man was attending him. Guru Mahrj asked, mu mwef b#b"Has he something to say? The attending person came and asked me, Have you something to say? No. I have nothing to say. He went back. He says he has nothing to say. Then Guru Mahrj said, He has something to ask? rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 29 32 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology He again came to me, and said, Guru Mahrj said, have you got something to ask? No, I have nothing to ask. He again returned to Guru Mahrj. He says he has nothing to ask. Then again Guru Mahrj put, He has got some purpose in mind for coming here. The person returned to me. I said, Yes, without purpose no incident can happen. When I have come, I have some purpose. What purpose? To gain the grace of you all. That was my answer. aenfet xsmy , Nothing else but that. Perhaps that touched Guru Mahrj. He approached me and enquired from me who I was, what I did, where was my home and so on. And then he said, Yes, you are fortunate. You are born in the area of Gau#a-ma@#al. They had one booklet printed then and the attending person said, Guru Mahrj is offering this booklet to you. I said, I already have it. He said, That does not matter; with his good will he is giving this to you, so it is something else. You take it. Then I took it on my head and accepted it. That was the rst talk with Guru Mahrj. The following year I was invited to r(man Mahprabhu s Appearance Ceremony at Mypur. At that time I was visiting the Ma$h and hearing. I went there for the Ceremony. At that time my mother was also inviting me to the village Gumo where she was staying with my second brother. She wanted to see me before going to Haridwr, and the Gau#(ya Ma$h people were also inviting me to Mypur. I was in a dilemma. What to do? It was my mothers calland maybe the last. She might not live, her health was not good. This was the call. And I thought, I want to take this side in my life, so this side must be given preference. That is, I avoided the call of my mother to see her, and I went to the Gau#(ya Ma$h instead. In this way, and sometimes in the village for two or three years. Then it was stopped for some time, and later I was wanted for service in Calcutta. With the help of a government ofce superintendent I got some vocation and I put up in Calcutta. I attended the ofce there. My attraction stays always towards Mahprabhu. In the meantime I wandered here and there searching for a sdhu from whom to take ini- tiation. But I couldnt select anyone to my taste or satisfaction. One day, I was returning from the ofce and I found a placard in Chittaranjan Avenue: Gau#(ya Ma$h Mahotsav [Grand Festival] for one month. The address was given, near the Pareshnth Temple. I found this red-coloured placard. I thought, Gau#(ya Ma$h must be Mahprabhus followers, let us go and see what is there. When I was a law student, through Suresh Bha$$chryya I knew the founder of Bhrat-Sevshram, r( Pra@avnanda, and he tried his best to take me into his mission; but I atly refused. My head is sold to Mahprabhu, Gaur&ga, so I cant go anywhere else. He said, I also have great reverence for Mahprabhu Chaitanyadev, but I think the rst stage must be Buddhistic abnegation or vairgya and indifference [to the world]. Second, a&kars Vednta or jna. And the last and highest will be Chaitanyas Prema. Otherwise people will mis- understand that Prema for lust. I replied, Yes, what you say is alrightthat r( Chaitanyadevs Prema-dharmma is the highest, above the Buddhistic and a&karite con- ceptions of theism. But Chaitanyadev has not told us, Go to the Buddhists and practice vairgya, and then go to a&kar and have knowl- edge of the Vednta, and then come to Me. He has told that wherever you are, take the association of a sdhu and you can take the Name. He was silenced. I said to him, If you have got any supernatural power, I will be grateful if you can say where my spiritual guide, my Gurudev, is. But he took the name of some gentleman, Haranth. I went to search for him but could not nd him. But this was when I found that placard and went to Gau#(ya Ma$h. There I found only one gentleman manning the outside hall, and the rest had all gone on procession of rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 33 36 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Mahrj went to England for preaching, and I was in charge of Madras ma$h. The temple was constructed almost in my time. Later, Bombay ma$h was opened, and I was again taken there. I lived there for some time, and later was taken with the general party with Prabhupd. Staying most of the time with Prabhupd, we preached in different places of Bengal. At 5.30 a.m. on 1st January, 1937, Prabhupd left the world. Before this, Prabhupd had wanted me to go for preaching to London, but I said, I am not t for thisI cant follow their accent, and I dont have the tendency to mix with them very closely. So you will spend money to send me, but I wont be able to show any satisfac- tory result. Of course, if you order me I must go, but I am just inform- ing you what I am. Then he sent r(yukta A.B. Goswm( Prabhu [later r(pd Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj] instead of me. When Prabhupd become ill, I attended his sickbed. Just one day before his departure he called for me, and he asked me to chant r( R)pa-majar(pada. At that time I was not accustomed to leading the k(rttan. I was hesitatingr(yukta Kuja Bbu, later r(pd Bhakti Vils T(rtha Mahrj, asked one Brahmachr( Prabhu, You go on singing. Then he began singing, but Prabhupd felt dissatisfaction. He said, I dont want to hear the tone or sweet sound. Then that Brahmachr( Prabhu stopped and I had to sing r( R)pa-majar(pada. And the others said, Prabhupd has hereby given you admission to the Rasa-sev section. About one year before this, I composed a Sanskrit poem about r(la Bhaktivinoda hkur, and r(la Prabhupd was very happy with this. When I rst read it to him, he remarked, A very happy style. Next, I heard, he said to r(pd rauti Mahrj, This poem is so ne, it is not written by himit is written by r(la Bhaktivinoda hkur himself, and has come out through him. It is so appreciable. Once, he said to r(yukta Aprk~ta Prabhu, Im satised that what I came to say will remain after meI nd in this loka [verse] the siddhnta [perfect theo- logical conclusion]: >ll +II + + +I I ' " I Il From their talks in general, I found that they do not care for the opinion of anyone else; but when anything is quoted from Scripture, they give a patient hearing. This was their nature. Summarily they reject all, they dont care for anyone, but they care only for Scriptural truth; that they soberly consider and evaluate. But with abhorrence they reject so many stalwarts of the then societythis Aurobindo, this Gandhi, this Ramkrishna, the [imitationist] Goswminsthey summarily reject them all. But Mahprabhu, Bhgavatam, G(tthey are all-in-all. I had an attraction, a taste for them. I could identify with them. Still, there was some sort of objection. One was that Guru Mahrj comes from a Kyastha family, that is considered )dra, and I come from a brhma@a pa@#its family of great honour in the society. Ostensibly, any brhma@a should have been suitable; in this way some sort of objection was felt in me. Then, when I went to Mypur I again saw many things that touched me. r(la Prabhupd was delivering a lecture to so many gentlemen who had come from K!@anagareducated persons. In another place the elderly r(pd Bhakti Prad(p T(rtha Mahrj was giving a lecture. Somewhere else r(pd Bhakti Svar)pa Parvvat Mahrj was found writ- ing receipts, collecting funds from the people. It was a hive of activity. I felt a transcendental, happy atmosphere there. When the celebration was over, Guru Mahrj was sitting in a can- vas chair on the verandah of his room, and many persons were offering him obeisances and going home. At that time he was speaking, giving some discourse. I was always very eager to hear him. He was saying, aenfet aehekw bBf wotkbf f ,Dont cheat me, you people. I was alert. What? Where was the question of cheating him? Why cheat- ing? Everyone was invited, they came, and now they are leaving; what was his point about cheating? Then the next thing he said was, You all came with the understand- ing that you will engage yourselves in the Service of K!@a, and so I have entered into some relationship with you. And now, only as a fashion you have attended this ceremony and you are going home to engage yourselves in worldly affairs; but your assurance to me was that you would all serve K!@a, but. . . disappointed. . . Then he continued, rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 35 34 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology You may say Oh, I have got some important business and after nish- ing this I shall come and join you as soon as possible but no, no If you tell me there is just a little re and after extinguishing the re you will return, then I say that is also not necessary. If re burns the whole world you do not lose anything. Rather you are spared if you can disconnect from those things that are burnt. All your positive engagement, your inner hankering, has corresponding things in K!@a. All your necessities and hankering will be satised in the service of the Holy Lotus Feet of K!@a, and nowhere else. He was speaking so forcefully. I was wonderstruck. I thought, I would never hear anywhere in this living world such intense necessity for K!@a-bhajanaso I must throw my head here. It was then that I took the decision that I must be a disciple here. Before my mother died she had had some apprehension that he is my eldest son but he will become a sannys( without completing my rddha ceremony [last rites]; then who will do my rddha ceremony? So when she passed, I went home and completed her rddha and after nishing that I came, in the last part of April, to join the ma$h. At rst, I said that my two younger brothers would nish their studies and take to their vocations, and then I would come away [from the family and join]. But r(pd Bhrat( Mahrj and others said that I had a great opportunity. They pressed, No, no K!@a has taken your wife, and K!@a has taken your mother. He has done enough for you. Really if you neglect to avail yourself of this chance, perhaps some other obstacle will come and this life will be spoiled with no hope. I asked, What are you saying? They said, Come immediately. I took that advice and joined immediately. I was living together with my two brothers in a hostel, and they came with me. They went back crying, I remained in the ma$h. I stayed at the Calcutta ma$h for some time. I was requested to do some service in the press there, but I was not particularly inspired by the press work of proofreading, etc. I had much liking for the preaching to go on k(rttan and preach. So, I was next sent on a preaching tour. The rst stop was at the Dumurkond ma$h [in Bengal] and from there to Benares, then to V~ndvan. There, there was nagar-k(rttan for some time, then I was taken to Delhi where there was door-to-door col- lection for some time. Then Kuruk!etra ma$h was established and I was made ma$h commander there, and then I was alone. A small village- town and the place of Kuruk!etra. That is a solitary place except for during the solar eclipse when there is a great rush of hundreds of thou- sands of people. Doing collection, I passed about two or three years there. Then the Delhi ma$h was founded and I was in charge there. Then I visited Simla and other places for preaching. Every year in August we had to come back to the Calcutta ma$h celebration for one month. So when I came back here I was taken by r(pd Bhakti H~day Bon Mahrj and r( Hayagr(va Prabhu [later r(pd Bhakti Dayita Mdhav Mahrj] in a party towards Madras side, installing the footprints of Mahprabhu. Then again upon returning, the Bagh Bazaar Ma$h was opened, and from the original rented house in Ul$ &g the Deities were moved in procession in a chariot to Bagh Bazaar Ma$h, and a one-month festival was held there. After that Prabhupd went on that year establishing and installing those Pda-p($ha [footprints of Mahprabhu] up to Ma&galgiri, near Bejoyd, Kobhur, and so on. Then he went to Madras and declared the opening of Madras Gau#(ya Ma$h and put us there. We rented a house. r(pd Bon Mahrj was the leader, and the senior sannys(. In the meantime I was given sannysa, recommended by r(pd Bon Mahrj. He said about me, He can preach well; hes a good preacher rather than a canvasser. I had a B>A>, and I was known as r( Rmendrasundar Bha$$chryya, B>A> My duty was to approach the people and introduce the sannysins, and more or less I had the work of a canvasser. But r(pd Bon Mahrj said, Hes not a good canvasser but a good preacher. He can speak Hari-kath very well. Then I was given sannysa in October, 1930, and after installing footprints of Mahprabhu one by one in various places, Prabhupd opened the ma$h in Madras [as abovementioned], and we were left there and began preaching for three years or so. Then there was V~ndvan parikram, circumambulation of the whole of V~ndvan. We joined that programme, and then r(pd Bon rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 35 34 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology You may say Oh, I have got some important business and after nish- ing this I shall come and join you as soon as possible but no, no If you tell me there is just a little re and after extinguishing the re you will return, then I say that is also not necessary. If re burns the whole world you do not lose anything. Rather you are spared if you can disconnect from those things that are burnt. All your positive engagement, your inner hankering, has corresponding things in K!@a. All your necessities and hankering will be satised in the service of the Holy Lotus Feet of K!@a, and nowhere else. He was speaking so forcefully. I was wonderstruck. I thought, I would never hear anywhere in this living world such intense necessity for K!@a-bhajanaso I must throw my head here. It was then that I took the decision that I must be a disciple here. Before my mother died she had had some apprehension that he is my eldest son but he will become a sannys( without completing my rddha ceremony [last rites]; then who will do my rddha ceremony? So when she passed, I went home and completed her rddha and after nishing that I came, in the last part of April, to join the ma$h. At rst, I said that my two younger brothers would nish their studies and take to their vocations, and then I would come away [from the family and join]. But r(pd Bhrat( Mahrj and others said that I had a great opportunity. They pressed, No, no K!@a has taken your wife, and K!@a has taken your mother. He has done enough for you. Really if you neglect to avail yourself of this chance, perhaps some other obstacle will come and this life will be spoiled with no hope. I asked, What are you saying? They said, Come immediately. I took that advice and joined immediately. I was living together with my two brothers in a hostel, and they came with me. They went back crying, I remained in the ma$h. I stayed at the Calcutta ma$h for some time. I was requested to do some service in the press there, but I was not particularly inspired by the press work of proofreading, etc. I had much liking for the preaching to go on k(rttan and preach. So, I was next sent on a preaching tour. The rst stop was at the Dumurkond ma$h [in Bengal] and from there to Benares, then to V~ndvan. There, there was nagar-k(rttan for some time, then I was taken to Delhi where there was door-to-door col- lection for some time. Then Kuruk!etra ma$h was established and I was made ma$h commander there, and then I was alone. A small village- town and the place of Kuruk!etra. That is a solitary place except for during the solar eclipse when there is a great rush of hundreds of thou- sands of people. Doing collection, I passed about two or three years there. Then the Delhi ma$h was founded and I was in charge there. Then I visited Simla and other places for preaching. Every year in August we had to come back to the Calcutta ma$h celebration for one month. So when I came back here I was taken by r(pd Bhakti H~day Bon Mahrj and r( Hayagr(va Prabhu [later r(pd Bhakti Dayita Mdhav Mahrj] in a party towards Madras side, installing the footprints of Mahprabhu. Then again upon returning, the Bagh Bazaar Ma$h was opened, and from the original rented house in Ul$ &g the Deities were moved in procession in a chariot to Bagh Bazaar Ma$h, and a one-month festival was held there. After that Prabhupd went on that year establishing and installing those Pda-p($ha [footprints of Mahprabhu] up to Ma&galgiri, near Bejoyd, Kobhur, and so on. Then he went to Madras and declared the opening of Madras Gau#(ya Ma$h and put us there. We rented a house. r(pd Bon Mahrj was the leader, and the senior sannys(. In the meantime I was given sannysa, recommended by r(pd Bon Mahrj. He said about me, He can preach well; hes a good preacher rather than a canvasser. I had a B>A>, and I was known as r( Rmendrasundar Bha$$chryya, B>A> My duty was to approach the people and introduce the sannysins, and more or less I had the work of a canvasser. But r(pd Bon Mahrj said, Hes not a good canvasser but a good preacher. He can speak Hari-kath very well. Then I was given sannysa in October, 1930, and after installing footprints of Mahprabhu one by one in various places, Prabhupd opened the ma$h in Madras [as abovementioned], and we were left there and began preaching for three years or so. Then there was V~ndvan parikram, circumambulation of the whole of V~ndvan. We joined that programme, and then r(pd Bon rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 33 36 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Mahrj went to England for preaching, and I was in charge of Madras ma$h. The temple was constructed almost in my time. Later, Bombay ma$h was opened, and I was again taken there. I lived there for some time, and later was taken with the general party with Prabhupd. Staying most of the time with Prabhupd, we preached in different places of Bengal. At 5.30 a.m. on 1st January, 1937, Prabhupd left the world. Before this, Prabhupd had wanted me to go for preaching to London, but I said, I am not t for thisI cant follow their accent, and I dont have the tendency to mix with them very closely. So you will spend money to send me, but I wont be able to show any satisfac- tory result. Of course, if you order me I must go, but I am just inform- ing you what I am. Then he sent r(yukta A.B. Goswm( Prabhu [later r(pd Bhakti Sra&ga Goswm( Mahrj] instead of me. When Prabhupd become ill, I attended his sickbed. Just one day before his departure he called for me, and he asked me to chant r( R)pa-majar(pada. At that time I was not accustomed to leading the k(rttan. I was hesitatingr(yukta Kuja Bbu, later r(pd Bhakti Vils T(rtha Mahrj, asked one Brahmachr( Prabhu, You go on singing. Then he began singing, but Prabhupd felt dissatisfaction. He said, I dont want to hear the tone or sweet sound. Then that Brahmachr( Prabhu stopped and I had to sing r( R)pa-majar(pada. And the others said, Prabhupd has hereby given you admission to the Rasa-sev section. About one year before this, I composed a Sanskrit poem about r(la Bhaktivinoda hkur, and r(la Prabhupd was very happy with this. When I rst read it to him, he remarked, A very happy style. Next, I heard, he said to r(pd rauti Mahrj, This poem is so ne, it is not written by himit is written by r(la Bhaktivinoda hkur himself, and has come out through him. It is so appreciable. Once, he said to r(yukta Aprk~ta Prabhu, Im satised that what I came to say will remain after meI nd in this loka [verse] the siddhnta [perfect theo- logical conclusion]: >ll +II + + +I I ' " I Il From their talks in general, I found that they do not care for the opinion of anyone else; but when anything is quoted from Scripture, they give a patient hearing. This was their nature. Summarily they reject all, they dont care for anyone, but they care only for Scriptural truth; that they soberly consider and evaluate. But with abhorrence they reject so many stalwarts of the then societythis Aurobindo, this Gandhi, this Ramkrishna, the [imitationist] Goswminsthey summarily reject them all. But Mahprabhu, Bhgavatam, G(tthey are all-in-all. I had an attraction, a taste for them. I could identify with them. Still, there was some sort of objection. One was that Guru Mahrj comes from a Kyastha family, that is considered )dra, and I come from a brhma@a pa@#its family of great honour in the society. Ostensibly, any brhma@a should have been suitable; in this way some sort of objection was felt in me. Then, when I went to Mypur I again saw many things that touched me. r(la Prabhupd was delivering a lecture to so many gentlemen who had come from K!@anagareducated persons. In another place the elderly r(pd Bhakti Prad(p T(rtha Mahrj was giving a lecture. Somewhere else r(pd Bhakti Svar)pa Parvvat Mahrj was found writ- ing receipts, collecting funds from the people. It was a hive of activity. I felt a transcendental, happy atmosphere there. When the celebration was over, Guru Mahrj was sitting in a can- vas chair on the verandah of his room, and many persons were offering him obeisances and going home. At that time he was speaking, giving some discourse. I was always very eager to hear him. He was saying, aenfet aehekw bBf wotkbf f ,Dont cheat me, you people. I was alert. What? Where was the question of cheating him? Why cheat- ing? Everyone was invited, they came, and now they are leaving; what was his point about cheating? Then the next thing he said was, You all came with the understand- ing that you will engage yourselves in the Service of K!@a, and so I have entered into some relationship with you. And now, only as a fashion you have attended this ceremony and you are going home to engage yourselves in worldly affairs; but your assurance to me was that you would all serve K!@a, but. . . disappointed. . . Then he continued, 40 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology vikr(\ita^ vraja-vadh)bhir ida^ cha vi!@o% raddhnvito nu~@uyd atha var@ayed ya% bhakti^ par^ bhagavati pratilabhya kma^ h~d-rogam v apahinoty achire@a dh(ra% I said to him, You want to help the divs(s, and I also want to help them. But your help is in a particular way, and my help is in another way. It has been told in the Scriptures that to hanker for something [in this world] is a heart-disease. It is mentioned in Bhgavatam by ukadev Goswm(, kma^ h~d-rogam. I want this, I want that, I want thousands, I want millionsthat is heart-disease, and not real. When I was a hog, I devoured a hillock of stools, but hunger is not appeased. When I was an elephant I nished a whole forest, but hunger is not nished. So hunger can never be nished in this way. There are so many who have amassed millions, still they say, No, this is very little, I want more, more. So this is heart-disease, and in the Bhgavatam ukadev Goswm( has given the medicine for this. Vikr(\itam. . . when you can accommodate the Absolute to have His full, unrestricted play, and use His ownership with everything, every atom in the creationif you can accommodate such a conception of the Absolute with the environment, then you can get out of this heart-dis- ease. Theres no other way. The man was impressed. Tears fell from his eyes. Swm(j(, I believe in God. Your eyes bear testimony to that. I shall pay your money. But not just now; go to Madras, I shall pay. He sent the money, and the Madras Temple was constructed. My preaching was not that of the false canvasser, but straight deal- ing; dealing with the plain truth. Not any coaxing or indirect way, attering, or by sweet words to somehow rob the man. Straight talk, straight dealing representation. My guide was, why have I come here? What fascination brought me here? I tried my best to represent that fas- cination to them. This is the cause for preachingyou must appreciate such cause. I have got appreciation in this line, and I dont think that I l I-I 4-I- I-I >l+ I lI -l r(-gaurnumata^ svar)pa-vidita^ r)pgrajend~ta^ r)pdyai% pariveita^ raghuga@air svdita^ sevitam j(vdyair abhirak!ita^ uka-iva-brahmdi sammnita^ r(-rdh-pada-sevanm~tam-aho tad dtum (o bhavn That which is the Gracious Gift of r( Gaurachandra, the deep, inter- nal puport of which is known by r( Svar)p Dmodar, that which is adored by r( Santan Goswm(, and distributed by the Rasa- tattvchryyas headed by r( R)pa Goswm(; that which is tasted and enriched by r( Raghunth Ds Goswm( and followers, and tenderly protected by r( J(va Goswm( and his company; and that which is ven- erated from afar by the great personages like Mahdev, lord of the gods, and Brahm, grandfather of the worldaho marvel of marvels, that ecstatic nectar of the Exclusive Service of the Lotus Feet of r( Rdh you hold the perfect position to mercifully give even that to us. Before this also, I wrote an article for the spiritual newspaper Nadiy Praksh, and Prabhupd remarked to r(pd rama@ Mahrj, who was the editor, If you can gather this type of article to publish in your paper, the standard of your paper will be raised. Such articles are desir- able to be published. Anyhow, he appreciated my understanding and realization. There are many other instances. Myself {Trida@#i-bhik!u r( B.A. Sgar}: I heard that r(la Prabhupd praised you as stra-nipu@a. r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Oh. In Madras, in the Gau#(ya, Gau#(ya Ma$hs leading weekly paper, there was published one siddhnta. The birthday of r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev( and the birthday of our Guru Mahrj were mistakenly transposed. Both are pacham( [fth lunar day]. r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev(s is on pacham( of the bright moon fort- night, and Prabhupds is on pacham( of the dark moon fortnight. But they were transposedPrabhupd to the bright fth and r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev( to the dark fth. I read it carefully, and I thought the basis of the philosophising was wrong. Why has K!@a-akti come on the rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 37 rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 39 38 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology bright moon, and Gaura-akti on the dark moon? I found it should be just the opposite. I showed it to r(pd Bon Mahrj, considering it a grave error. He suddenly took up the pen and wrote a letter to the effect, What is this? We thought that the editors have some touch with the reality and what they write has some real connection with the sentiment, but how can this sort or error be possible from them? Have they no rauta-connection? All concoction So it was detected, and an amendment was published in a later issue. When Prabhupd was there, the books Ray Ramnanda, Relative Worlds and Brahma-sa^hit were published. It was mentioned that when Mahprabhu went to V~ndvan He met r( R)pa and r( Santan Goswmins on the way. But I knew it clearly that He met them when returning from V~ndvan, so I objected. Anyway, I didnt take it to Prabhupds notice, but it must have come to his notice that r(dhar Mahrj detected all these things. On the occasion of his Vysa-P)j, Prabhupd delivered a written address, and there he mentioned before my name, stra-nipu@a r(dhar Mahrjhe has very deep knowl- edge in the Scriptures; that was his consideration. Myself: And about discovering the place of r( Rmnanda Ry? r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Yes, when I was called from Uttar Pradesh to join the Madras party, before that my name was r( Rmendrasundar Bha$$chryya. But now he converted my name into r( Rmnanda Ds, and with this name he sent me with a group to nd out the place of the conversation between r(man Mahprabhu and r( Rmnanda Ry, and to install the Pda-p($ha [footprints of Mahprabhu] there. At that time I delivered a short lecture in Rjmhendry about that conversation of r(man Mahprabhu and r( Rmnanda Ry at Kobhur, and I heard from r(pd K!@ads Bbj( Mahrj that r(pd Bon Mahrj was of the opinion that this speech was extremely appre- ciable, and that it contained the most precious Teachings. Hare K!@a. Myself: That Temple where you installed the Pda-p($h is still existing today? r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Yes. During our time the Deities were installed by Prabhupd, but there was only that Pda-p($h mandir. A separate mandir was established after Prabhupd, perhaps by r(pd Bhakti Vils T(rtha Mahrj. Later, myself as a sannys( and r( Hyagr(va Prabhu as a white-clad brahmachr(, who was later r(pd Mdhava Mahrj, worked together. Also, I collected funds from the Rj of Jeipur [Orissa] for the Madras Temple. That is also a history. Their new I>C>S> was Mr. O> Pulla Reddy. He was appointed Dewn [government ofcial] of Jeipur. Because that is an divs( [indigenous peoples] area, a special sort of rule was intro- duced there by the British. The Dewn is more powerful than the King. We came from Madras with some recommendation from the ofciating Chief Justice, Mr. Rameshan, to meet the Rj of Jeipur. Then, the Rj promised to pay the cost of the Madras Temple, but he kept requesting us, Approach the Dewn, and he, and not I, will give you the money. So go and consult the higher. I am only giving my sign of approval, but the money will be paid by him. So meet him. I had heard that he was a half-atheistic man, so I was hesitant to approach him. I said, No, you are King, you are master, so it is better that you will give the money, and so on, but he insisted again and again. No. You will have to meet the Dewn. But when I met the Dewn, it was just the opposite. The Dewn said, Oh, Im the last man to pay you this amount, ten thousand, to build the temple at Madras. If you would be building it here, then I could have some consideration; people here would have some recreation in the temple. But these poor people, half-fed and half-cladif we get any money in excess, I must give an order for their help. Funds must be used for that cause, not for this luxury of constructing a temple; and that, too, is in Madras town. Go there and collect funds to construct your temple. Then I thought this is a hopeless case, so drastic medicine must be applied. So I came out with this loka of r(mad-Bhgavatam: I7lI7 I-I I'"I >II " " " " l - + -I FI" 4 ;I+II"I " l l rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 39 38 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology bright moon, and Gaura-akti on the dark moon? I found it should be just the opposite. I showed it to r(pd Bon Mahrj, considering it a grave error. He suddenly took up the pen and wrote a letter to the effect, What is this? We thought that the editors have some touch with the reality and what they write has some real connection with the sentiment, but how can this sort or error be possible from them? Have they no rauta-connection? All concoction So it was detected, and an amendment was published in a later issue. When Prabhupd was there, the books Ray Ramnanda, Relative Worlds and Brahma-sa^hit were published. It was mentioned that when Mahprabhu went to V~ndvan He met r( R)pa and r( Santan Goswmins on the way. But I knew it clearly that He met them when returning from V~ndvan, so I objected. Anyway, I didnt take it to Prabhupds notice, but it must have come to his notice that r(dhar Mahrj detected all these things. On the occasion of his Vysa-P)j, Prabhupd delivered a written address, and there he mentioned before my name, stra-nipu@a r(dhar Mahrjhe has very deep knowl- edge in the Scriptures; that was his consideration. Myself: And about discovering the place of r( Rmnanda Ry? r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Yes, when I was called from Uttar Pradesh to join the Madras party, before that my name was r( Rmendrasundar Bha$$chryya. But now he converted my name into r( Rmnanda Ds, and with this name he sent me with a group to nd out the place of the conversation between r(man Mahprabhu and r( Rmnanda Ry, and to install the Pda-p($ha [footprints of Mahprabhu] there. At that time I delivered a short lecture in Rjmhendry about that conversation of r(man Mahprabhu and r( Rmnanda Ry at Kobhur, and I heard from r(pd K!@ads Bbj( Mahrj that r(pd Bon Mahrj was of the opinion that this speech was extremely appre- ciable, and that it contained the most precious Teachings. Hare K!@a. Myself: That Temple where you installed the Pda-p($h is still existing today? r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Yes. During our time the Deities were installed by Prabhupd, but there was only that Pda-p($h mandir. A separate mandir was established after Prabhupd, perhaps by r(pd Bhakti Vils T(rtha Mahrj. Later, myself as a sannys( and r( Hyagr(va Prabhu as a white-clad brahmachr(, who was later r(pd Mdhava Mahrj, worked together. Also, I collected funds from the Rj of Jeipur [Orissa] for the Madras Temple. That is also a history. Their new I>C>S> was Mr. O> Pulla Reddy. He was appointed Dewn [government ofcial] of Jeipur. Because that is an divs( [indigenous peoples] area, a special sort of rule was intro- duced there by the British. The Dewn is more powerful than the King. We came from Madras with some recommendation from the ofciating Chief Justice, Mr. Rameshan, to meet the Rj of Jeipur. Then, the Rj promised to pay the cost of the Madras Temple, but he kept requesting us, Approach the Dewn, and he, and not I, will give you the money. So go and consult the higher. I am only giving my sign of approval, but the money will be paid by him. So meet him. I had heard that he was a half-atheistic man, so I was hesitant to approach him. I said, No, you are King, you are master, so it is better that you will give the money, and so on, but he insisted again and again. No. You will have to meet the Dewn. But when I met the Dewn, it was just the opposite. The Dewn said, Oh, Im the last man to pay you this amount, ten thousand, to build the temple at Madras. If you would be building it here, then I could have some consideration; people here would have some recreation in the temple. But these poor people, half-fed and half-cladif we get any money in excess, I must give an order for their help. Funds must be used for that cause, not for this luxury of constructing a temple; and that, too, is in Madras town. Go there and collect funds to construct your temple. Then I thought this is a hopeless case, so drastic medicine must be applied. So I came out with this loka of r(mad-Bhgavatam: I7lI7 I-I I'"I >II " " " " l - + -I FI" 4 ;I+II"I " l l 40 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology vikr(\ita^ vraja-vadh)bhir ida^ cha vi!@o% raddhnvito nu~@uyd atha var@ayed ya% bhakti^ par^ bhagavati pratilabhya kma^ h~d-rogam v apahinoty achire@a dh(ra% I said to him, You want to help the divs(s, and I also want to help them. But your help is in a particular way, and my help is in another way. It has been told in the Scriptures that to hanker for something [in this world] is a heart-disease. It is mentioned in Bhgavatam by ukadev Goswm(, kma^ h~d-rogam. I want this, I want that, I want thousands, I want millionsthat is heart-disease, and not real. When I was a hog, I devoured a hillock of stools, but hunger is not appeased. When I was an elephant I nished a whole forest, but hunger is not nished. So hunger can never be nished in this way. There are so many who have amassed millions, still they say, No, this is very little, I want more, more. So this is heart-disease, and in the Bhgavatam ukadev Goswm( has given the medicine for this. Vikr(\itam. . . when you can accommodate the Absolute to have His full, unrestricted play, and use His ownership with everything, every atom in the creationif you can accommodate such a conception of the Absolute with the environment, then you can get out of this heart-dis- ease. Theres no other way. The man was impressed. Tears fell from his eyes. Swm(j(, I believe in God. Your eyes bear testimony to that. I shall pay your money. But not just now; go to Madras, I shall pay. He sent the money, and the Madras Temple was constructed. My preaching was not that of the false canvasser, but straight deal- ing; dealing with the plain truth. Not any coaxing or indirect way, attering, or by sweet words to somehow rob the man. Straight talk, straight dealing representation. My guide was, why have I come here? What fascination brought me here? I tried my best to represent that fas- cination to them. This is the cause for preachingyou must appreciate such cause. I have got appreciation in this line, and I dont think that I l I-I 4-I- I-I >l+ I lI -l r(-gaurnumata^ svar)pa-vidita^ r)pgrajend~ta^ r)pdyai% pariveita^ raghuga@air svdita^ sevitam j(vdyair abhirak!ita^ uka-iva-brahmdi sammnita^ r(-rdh-pada-sevanm~tam-aho tad dtum (o bhavn That which is the Gracious Gift of r( Gaurachandra, the deep, inter- nal puport of which is known by r( Svar)p Dmodar, that which is adored by r( Santan Goswm(, and distributed by the Rasa- tattvchryyas headed by r( R)pa Goswm(; that which is tasted and enriched by r( Raghunth Ds Goswm( and followers, and tenderly protected by r( J(va Goswm( and his company; and that which is ven- erated from afar by the great personages like Mahdev, lord of the gods, and Brahm, grandfather of the worldaho marvel of marvels, that ecstatic nectar of the Exclusive Service of the Lotus Feet of r( Rdh you hold the perfect position to mercifully give even that to us. Before this also, I wrote an article for the spiritual newspaper Nadiy Praksh, and Prabhupd remarked to r(pd rama@ Mahrj, who was the editor, If you can gather this type of article to publish in your paper, the standard of your paper will be raised. Such articles are desir- able to be published. Anyhow, he appreciated my understanding and realization. There are many other instances. Myself {Trida@#i-bhik!u r( B.A. Sgar}: I heard that r(la Prabhupd praised you as stra-nipu@a. r(la r(dhar Mahrj: Oh. In Madras, in the Gau#(ya, Gau#(ya Ma$hs leading weekly paper, there was published one siddhnta. The birthday of r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev( and the birthday of our Guru Mahrj were mistakenly transposed. Both are pacham( [fth lunar day]. r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev(s is on pacham( of the bright moon fort- night, and Prabhupds is on pacham( of the dark moon fortnight. But they were transposedPrabhupd to the bright fth and r(mat( Vi!@upriy Dev( to the dark fth. I read it carefully, and I thought the basis of the philosophising was wrong. Why has K!@a-akti come on the rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 37 rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 41 did wrong. Every moment I think Im justied to accept this principle and to march on, in this line. After the disappearance of Guru Mahrj there were trustees appointed by him and he said to make a governing body.... But unfor- tunately for us..........there were many discrepancies and the mission could not be kept together. Although I thought that I must try my best to purify the movement, according to my conscience, it was not to be so. So I thought I must leave silently. My principle wouldnt be to try to ght again amongst one another to purify the mission. That was my mentality. Others, stal- warts, could not tolerate the discrepancies and they were ghting. I was somewhat still associated when there was a case, and some stal- wart Godbrothers were jailed and the case went on. I couldnt leave like a coward, but after perhaps a year the case was nished, they were released, and I went to V~ndvan leaving the association of the Ma$h. I dont care for such ghting. They tried their best to keep me with them but I said it was not pos- sible for me to remain in the association of [what was now becoming ] quarrelling elements. I stayed there at Govarddhan for a month, and completing the rjj vrata there, I took Govarddhan il and came here and hired a house for two rupees per month. When I returned from V~ndvan I met my previous brother [my brother from my family], Ma@i Bbu. He was in the service of the railway. I asked him to give me ten rupees per month for a few months. He agreed and did so for two or three months, and with that I came here. Gradually the others tried to nd out where I was. Finally they found me out and they began to visit me now and then. Whenever they came they would bring some gift or so. r(yukta akh( Chara@ Ry secured this plot [where r( Chaitanya Sraswat Ma$h stands today]. He purchased it with his own money. Here I began my heart-service in a cottage. 1942 on Rathaytr Day I entered that cottage with Govarddhan il. Before that I lived for some time with r(pd Keav Mahrj in that rented house, and sometimes in Midnapore Ma$h with high people like r(pd Yyvar Mahrj, r(pd Mdhav Mahrj and others. rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 43 42 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology But here I was separated. Only one person was with me, then after some time another person with a few gentlemen of Orissa came, and some other Godbrothers also came. Then r(pd Govinda Mahrj, as a boy, r( Gaurendu Brahmachr(, and others came. r(pd K!@ads Bbaj( said to me, You please give attention to this r( Gaurendu Brahmachr(; hes very intelligent and qualied. I tried to give a little more attention to Gaurendu Brahmachr(, but others could not tolerate that. I wanted to help him by Sanskrit education, etc., but they could not tolerate that, and they gave a proposal that we must prepare a deed. By that time this building had already been con- structed in 1943. Two persons who had stayed with me for some time now demanded a document naming three Godbrother trustees, two themselves and one of whom was to be myself. I then asked according to which law it would be managed. They said by majority vote, which meant that whenever they combined they could do anything with me they liked. So I said, I avoided remaining in the company of many respected Sannysins and so many others. I came to live alone. That does not mean that you both will guide me. I cant accept this. They began to revolt and disturb. There was a compromise. r(pd Goswm( Mahrj and r(pd Mdhav Mahrj came. There was about ve thousand rupees in the bank, and another seven thousand or so was to be paid to them, and then I would be here with absolute proprietorship. r(pd Goswm( Mahrj came to my help; he gave a loan of four thousand, and r(pd Yyvar Mahrj and others collected some funds from different parts, then seven thousand was given up, and then from that time I am here. This is the history. I do not go for preaching very often. Im almost always sitting here, and I very rarely go out in the previous style. r(pd Mdhav Mahrj was always very affectionately accusing me, You are denying the edu- cated section of the people. Sitting here idle, you are denying the people. You have quality and capacity to preach Mahprabhus Teachings, especially to the educated section, but you do not do so. Whenever he came he would always charge me. Almost every year, after completing the Gaura-p)r@im celebrations he used to visit me, and he would charge me And also, every year for his Calcutta Ma$h celebration I used to go and deliver lectures there. In this way, days have passed. I rst came to meet r(pd A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm( Mahrj in Allahabad when I was white-clad [before sannysa]. After that I came here [Bengal], and then went to Madras. It was probably just before 1930 when I met him at Allahabad. At that time he was an agent of Krttik Bose Laboratories. He was taken to the Ma$h. Prabhupd was not there then. 1933 or so after Vraja-ma@#al parikram Prabhupd came back to Allahabad for laying the foundation stone, and at that time he met Prabhupd on a few visits and took initiation. You are already familiar with my relationship with him. C entenar year - rla Guru Mahrj Remembers 43 42 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology But here I was separated. Only one person was with me, then after some time another person with a few gentlemen of Orissa came, and some other Godbrothers also came. Then r(pd Govinda Mahrj, as a boy, r( Gaurendu Brahmachr(, and others came. r(pd K!@ads Bbaj( said to me, You please give attention to this r( Gaurendu Brahmachr(; hes very intelligent and qualied. I tried to give a little more attention to Gaurendu Brahmachr(, but others could not tolerate that. I wanted to help him by Sanskrit education, etc., but they could not tolerate that, and they gave a proposal that we must prepare a deed. By that time this building had already been con- structed in 1943. Two persons who had stayed with me for some time now demanded a document naming three Godbrother trustees, two themselves and one of whom was to be myself. I then asked according to which law it would be managed. They said by majority vote, which meant that whenever they combined they could do anything with me they liked. So I said, I avoided remaining in the company of many respected Sannysins and so many others. I came to live alone. That does not mean that you both will guide me. I cant accept this. They began to revolt and disturb. There was a compromise. r(pd Goswm( Mahrj and r(pd Mdhav Mahrj came. There was about ve thousand rupees in the bank, and another seven thousand or so was to be paid to them, and then I would be here with absolute proprietorship. r(pd Goswm( Mahrj came to my help; he gave a loan of four thousand, and r(pd Yyvar Mahrj and others collected some funds from different parts, then seven thousand was given up, and then from that time I am here. This is the history. I do not go for preaching very often. Im almost always sitting here, and I very rarely go out in the previous style. r(pd Mdhav Mahrj was always very affectionately accusing me, You are denying the edu- cated section of the people. Sitting here idle, you are denying the people. You have quality and capacity to preach Mahprabhus Teachings, especially to the educated section, but you do not do so. Whenever he came he would always charge me. Almost every year, after completing the Gaura-p)r@im celebrations he used to visit me, and he would charge me And also, every year for his Calcutta Ma$h celebration I used to go and deliver lectures there. In this way, days have passed. I rst came to meet r(pd A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm( Mahrj in Allahabad when I was white-clad [before sannysa]. After that I came here [Bengal], and then went to Madras. It was probably just before 1930 when I met him at Allahabad. At that time he was an agent of Krttik Bose Laboratories. He was taken to the Ma$h. Prabhupd was not there then. 1933 or so after Vraja-ma@#al parikram Prabhupd came back to Allahabad for laying the foundation stone, and at that time he met Prabhupd on a few visits and took initiation. You are already familiar with my relationship with him. C entenar year - Part 2 r^la Guru Mahrj His Holy Teachings Informal discources by His Divine Grace Selected from Mah periodicals and other limited-circulation publications. Chapters 13 & 14 are from Absolute Harmony (printed 1991) edited by Prabhu Madhura Ka. Chapter Four Hearing to See By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Man proposes and God disposes. Proposal is directed upwards, and disposal comes down. The waves of suggestion and acceptance are all the Lords l^l. naiva tasya ktenrtho, nkteneha kacana na csya sarvva-bhteu, kacid artha-vyapraya (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 3.18) In this world, a self-realised person who rejoices in the soul does not accrue piety by the performance of actions, nor does he incur sin by abstaining from duties. Amongst all living entities, from the highest life-forms of the planet of Lord Brahm down to the world of immo- bile organisms, he never depends on anyone for any personal demand whatsoever. For one who is self-realised, any and every wave is welcome for he is able to read the deeper meaning. te rtha yat prat^yeta, na prat^yeta ctmani tad vidyd tmano my, yathbhso yath tama (r^mad-Bhgavatam 2.9.34) r^mad-Bhgavatam asks, What is the conception of my? te rtha yat prat^yetawhat seems to us to be the right reading of the environment, is actually not so. Artheu abhijathe meaning and purpose of every incident is known to Ka. Many events are har- monised together and are for the purpose of serving Him. But when there is localised interest there is a clash. Imperial and universal inter- ests clash with provincial and local interests. Artheu abhija. He All Glories to r Guru and Gaurga alone can know why each straw is moving to this side or that. He is the only knower of everything. Only He knows what purpose is served by the grass bending in the wind to this side, and not that. All these movements taken together in harmony, go to Him. Artheu abhija svara. He is not responsible to anything or anyone. The universal meaning of every event and incident, even the move- ment of a piece of straw, is all-purposeful and all-meaningful to the Absolute. It all contributes to the absolute satisfaction of Ka. That is the meaning of the phrase, te rtha yat prat^yeta. Artheu abhija. Artha means universal. And what is the real purpose of every movement? It is for the one Universal Absolute. That absolute current goes towards the satisfaction of Ka. But that reading is not possible by the superficial j^vas. The j^vas cannot read or conceive the real meaning of everything. The j^va will have a dif- ferent reading of the circumstances, but that will be superficial, and that is my. We may interpret in our own way the reason for an earthquake, or a storm, or anything, but that reading is from our local interestthe real meaning is hidden. This is my, and on the basis of that we are performing so many activities. All our interpretations are from the plane of local interest, so give it up! sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 18.66) Give up your local interest and identify yourself with the current of that plane of universal interest. te rtha yat prat^yeta, na prat^yeta ctmani Without knowing the real meaning, what we feel and read is the wrong reading of the environmentit is my. We miss the universal purpose, and from local interest we read, Oh, this is for this pur- pose, this is for that purpose. But this is local interest. What we con- ceive, feel, trust and believe, is not in consonance with the universal reading: it is my. Even our belief is within the realm of my. Our conceptions will have no standing in the interest of the Absolute. 48 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Hearing to See 49 What we read in the local interest, we will not find if we go to read from the universal interest. Our disease of local interest and conception will be cured and removed when we see that everything is meant for Ka and we become one with that interest. te rtha yat prat^yeta, na prat^yeta ctmani tad vidyd tmano my, yathbhso yath tama That feeling, that conception, is known as my, what is not. It is apparent, but not real. What is not real, that is my. Even what I think to be real, is not so. M-ym means no, and y means what what is not. Apparently it seems to be, but the fact is, it is not so: that is my. In such a plane we eliminate the infinite interest and instead we see things by measuring according to our own interest. We measure everything only from the angle of vision and stand-point of our own selfish interest. In this way we ignore the infinite repre- sentation, position, duty, and service. This is my. Yathbhso yath tamalight and darkness both exist. The absence of truth is not truth: it is tama, darkness, ignorance, mistake, and error. aham evsam evgre, nnyad yat sad-asat param pacd aha yad etac ca, yo vaiyeta so smy aham te rtha yat prat^yeta, na prat^yeta ctmani tad vidyd tmano my, yathbhso yath tama yath mahnti bhtni, bhteccvacev anu praviny apravini, tath teu na tev aham etvad eva jijsya, tattva-jijsuntmana anvaya-vyatirekbhy, yat syt sarvatra sarvad (r^mad-Bhgavatam 2.9.3336) The ontological base of the whole r^mad-Bhgavatam is con- tained within these four lokas
. The Lord is present everywhere in a
direct or indirect way.
See Appendix for translation. 50 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology One in the uttama-adhikra (highest) stage makes no attempt to preach. Distribution of propaganda is for those in the madhyam- adhikra (middle) stage. It is there to take everyone from the narrow conception to the bright conceptionfrom the improper to the proper conception, sambandha-jnaand they will carry out their activi- ties accordingly. siddhnta baliy citte n kara alasa ih haite ka lge sudha mnasa (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, di 2.117) To engage us more earnestly towards service sometimes hearing is necessary. To hear just for the sake of hearing, is luxury. But hearing for engagement, that is proper hearing. The master calls, Oh you, please bring me a glass of water. But the student remains sitting. Did you hear me? Yes, I heard. But still he remains sitting tightthat sort of hearing wont do! There is a saying amongst the sahajiy section: Gurudeva asked for a glass of water, but I am engaged in Harinma. No, Gurudeva, Im engaged in Harinma. This is self-deception. Especially in the beginning, the importance will be the consider- ation of urgency. In Gurudeva bhajan will be present as service in a higher degree, not in us. By serving him I can partake in the higher quality of k^rttan, and that can come within me and improve the quality of my bhajan. Sdhu-saga and Nma-k^rttan are important. Nma-k^rttan has been recommended, but not without the associa- tion of the sdhu. That sdhu will be the higher, superior quality devotee, and sdhu-saga means serving him. Saga does not mean just bodily association but saga is possible only through the serving attitudenot by opposite dealing or idlely sitting. Saga means sat- saga. dadti pratighnti, guhyam khyti pcchati bhukte bhojayate caiva, a-vidha pr^ti-lakaam (Upademtam 4) Hearing to See 51 These are the six kinds of association
with a sdhu. Higher asso-
ciation is only possible with a serving attitude, otherwise there is no saga. Lower association means exploitation and enjoyment, but higher association can only be achieved through service. By proper association the quality of your service will increase, so sdhu-saga sdhu-sevis of most importance. The Gau^ya Mah stresses the importance of sdhu-sagaserving the sdhu. Whatever you do by the command of the higher devotee will, through him, surely connect you with a higher conception of the Absolute. Whatever you do, do with that connection from above and carry out his order. We have the experience of one sannysa Godbrother who, leaving the order and engagement of his Gurudeva, went to the holy place of Badar^k ram, and our Guru Mahrj punished him for that. So, we can see that without the order from above, even going to the holy places may be punishable. Without sdhu-saga we cannot connect with the higher level. Therefore even chanting the Name may not be Vaikuha-nma. ata r^-ka-nmdi, na bhaved grhyam indriyai sevonmukhe hi jihvdau, svayam eva sphuraty ada (r^ Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu 1.2.234) So the universal necessity is to learn and acquire a serving attitude, and if that is applied to Nma-bhajan, or any bhajan, that will be of great help to you. Jihva means the tongue, and nmdi means the nma, rpa, gua and l^l. On the tongue the Lords name (nma) will appear; within the eye, His form (rpa); within the mind, His qualities (gua); and in the heart, His pastimes (l^l): all these will come down to you, and everything about you will connect with that Vaikuha-tattva. So it is not just a question of increasing the quantity, but the quality must be present. To be real bhakti, sevonmukha and sev presuppose
Offering gifts in charity; accepting gifts in charity; revealing ones mind in con- fidence; enquiring confidentially; accepting prasd; and, offering prasd. 52 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology surrender, and all this presupposes sdhu-saga. It all originates from the association of a sdhu. From the positive direction it can come to us, so we must be thankful to that positive source. The Lord is there, but His grace is coming through His agents. So His agents should be welcomed and dealt with properly. Whatever we can collect with our energy we should devote towards sdhu and stra. Sdhu and stra are our two friends everywhere. My Guru Mahrj, r^la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat^ Prabhupd, one day explained what is a sdhu, and what is karmma. He then pro- ceeded to explain that if a sdhu orders, Bring me a flower, but when you bring the flower he says, No, now bring me some water, and you object, No, you ordered a flower and I brought it. Please accept this flower, that will be karmma. The sdhu is free. To thrust upon him his previous desire will be karmma. At every moment he is free, so to follow his past will, will be karmma. Always you are to be expectant for the immediate need. In the battlefield, if the General orders the army, March this side, then after noticing the circumstances to have changed he says, No, go this other way! Then it wont do for the soldiers to object by saying, No! You have already ordered us to go in this direction. Similarly the sdhu and Guru are always free, and their order should be taken in such a way. It is not that we shall stick firmly to their first order, but they are living and independent. On being asked to do a particular service, one disciple told our Guru Mahrj, I need to know my programme of what to do at least one week in advance. But r^la Prabhupd replied, But I received the order only five minutes ago, so how could I inform you earlier? So, it is not a dead matter. Of course, the beginners will not be able to accept that. They will receive their specific instructions just as a young boy is given the duty to every day practise writing the alphabet, ABC . That is a particular stage, but then he will be taught how to spell by using those letters in a certain way. And presently at every moment he will be using the letters in many ways according to the necessity of writing. Hearing to See 53 The order may come to take down a dictation, to write this and that. Just repeating ABC is not sufficient. So, in the beginning of devotional life the student is asked, Do this thing. Do that thing. But when he will come in connection within the living substance he will be prepared in such a way for a new order to come, and he will have to follow that with all alertness. When I was in Vndvan I had a desire to meet with one sdhu who was the most famous and respected siddha-bbj^ of that place. I had the chance to stay with him for a few days but my r^la Prabhupd, after circumambulating Vraja Maal, told me he was a kaniha- adhikr^. He explained that this bbj^ was only copying as a stu- dent what are accepted as the practices of a sdhu. He was following the stereotyped direction. He was chanting the Lords Names, doing mdhukar^, fasting, reading r^mad-Bhgavatam, and performing the various formal duties recommended for the beginners, but he was not coming in contact with the living thing. He was simply undergoing training. He was simply following the training period. In the armed forces when the new recruits are in the training period, they are asked to do something repeatedly, Do this! Do this! Do this! So they engage themselves in that way. The kaniha-adhikr^ does not know the spirit and therefore cannot connect with the living substance. He therefore is in the preparatory life of a devotee and he will repeatedly engage in those practices. Anyhow I had already gone to see this bbj^ two or three times in the evening. I sat there silently. He had many disciples there who respected him, with two or four staying by his side. Nobody said any- thing to me and he could not tell that I was from the Gau^ya Mah. I tried my best to read him. On one occasion that I saw him, it was the holy Nsiha-caturda^ day, and a reading from r^mad-Bhgavatam was begun. He recited, and sometimes he spoke about various things. I continued my watch over his activities, movements, etc.. As I watched him it was some- times as if I was noticing Guru Mahrj indicating to me that bbj^s nature. 54 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology After two or three days I came up with the conclusion that this man was trying his best from this plane to go up. But our Guru Mahrj has come down from there and has a living programme with a purpose to fulfil. He does not belong to this world, but he has come from the spiritual world with some order. Our Guru Mahrj has come down with something positive to give to the world. He has some order and plan: Go and do this! But that bbj^ was trying his best to follow what has been rec- ommended in the Scriptures. We can read about Rpa, Santan, and others, and accordingly have some idea and try to practise that. But that is theoretical practising: This has been recommended, let me practise all these things and then I will get my desired result. One who follows in this way is a kaniha-adhikr^. But the desired end and living result will come by working under the direction of Gurudeva and sdhu who are already members of that plane. And that is not the- oretical, but practical. The difference is there in the practical necessity. In this way I had also come to the conclusion, later to be con- firmed by r^la Guru Mahrj, that this bbj^ was a kaniha-adhikr^. Soldiers are sometimes ordered to do ordinary thingsnot only fighting but also shovelling, clearing jungle, and many other duties. When marching against the enemy, whatever duty will come in their front, they are to do that. The circumstances are practical and living. It is not mock-fighting, but a real fight, and at every moment they are not always fighting. The preparation to a fight has more value than fighting in a mock-fight during a training period, even though the mock-fight seems like real fighting. When the soldiers in the actual field find it necessary to do some other duties such as clearing the jungle, making a bridge, or a path etc., that will have more value than a practice fight in peaceful circum- stances. Of course the position of the Generalof the Gurudevais all- important: he must be real, not a sham or imitation. If the sdhu or Gurudeva is genuine, to clean up his stool and urine may fetch more than worshipping the Deity. That is because such activity has a Hearing to See 55 practical connection. So, under the guidance of a real cryya, what- ever we dowhether it be cooking, looking after the cows, personal service, or so many other dutiesthat will have more value than my independent reading of r^mad-Bhgavatam. That is possible because the cryya is actually leading spiritual life and he has his mission to do, and if we can help him that will fetch some higher result for us. And I will be paid by his coin, and not by any gross thing. C entenar y ear - Chapter Five The Guide By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Questioner: I wanted to enquire as to how to recognise Guru, stra, and sdhu. r^la Guru Mahrj (r^la r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj): We receive confirmation from our hearts approval, our inner approval. We must trace it to there because that took me to my Guru. Guru is all in all, but who took me to my Guru? It was my inner sentiment, my inner guide. It did not like anything else in the environment but instead selected that advice. Many others do not care to come here, and many may ridicule this life, but what made me come here? I cannot deprecate that internal approval, consciousness and sincerity. Therefore that is an important factor and ultimately we have to depend on that internal consciousness the most. When collecting advice from the Scriptures and when seeking or relying on advice from a sdhu, the only thing that takes me there is my internal approval, my inner friend. If it were not for that I would not have come. Indeed, so many others do not come. So who has taken me to this plane? na hi kalya-kt kacid, durgati tta gacchati (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 6.40) One who sincerely wants real good can never be deceived. When one is a real seeker of the truth, he can never be deceived. Ka says: My dear boy, one who is sincerely hankering after the truth can never come across misfortune. If apparently some misfortune comes to visit him along the way, that is to enhance his position for his improvement. The Guide 57 Some sort of danger may come on our way but if we are sincere it will be as a test to us and when we will overcome that, it will be an addition to our glory. The temptations will be rejected and disarmed but they will plead for us again. So sinceritysincere hankering after the truthis needed if we are to go further. And that is made of suktithe grace of the divine agents who, by their nature, are wandering through this cursed land to help others who may not even know they are being helped. Questioner: What are ravaa-da and varaa-da? r^la Guru Mahrj: ravaa-da is when one is satisfied by first hearing the philosophy, teachings, etc., during probationary life. When one is satisfied with ravaa he then comes to accept a guide, a Guru and that is the stage of varaa-da. He has the mood, Now I am pre- pared to take formal admission in this line, and accept you as my leader. Now whatever you say, I must obey. That is varaa-da. At first there is acceptance of a clan such as Christianity, Mohammedanism, etc., to which someone has been introduced. After first accepting a creed, a person will be selected who will be able to satisfy me according to the principles of that creed. He will be able to give me the desired end of life. He is Guru. First the creed is accepted, then the guide. Then beyond varaa-da begins sdhana-da. Sdhana-da is the third stage, and it means to follow the practices under the guidance of our Guru. By following that we shall gain some realisations and attain a tangible position: Yes, I feel that what was in the words and propaganda is now in my heart. My heart feels its touch. And that stage is called prpana-da. Only after being thus established is one able to also distribute such things to others, and that stage is called pana-da. Without being established in prpana-da, only with the help of someone who is established there can we go to preach. Questioner: Are there five stages? r^la Guru Mahrj: ravaa, varaa, and sdhana are within this camp. Then comes prpanathe tangible feeling, the position of oneself experiencing the thingattainment. First we come in touch 58 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology with that reality, then we become established in that real plane, and then we shall be able to distribute it to otherspana. Questioner: When we have inner conviction, are we then safe? Also, does the external Guru help us to contact the Chaitya-guru, the internal Guru? r^la Guru Mahrj: The external GuruMahnta-gurunot only helps us to contact the Chaitya-guru, but he helps to prepare us so we can infallibly read the direction of the Chaitya-guru. At first in a raw way we may receive direction from the Chaitya-guru, and that draws us to the Mahnta-guru. With the help of the Chaitya-guru we come to the Mahnta-guru. The Chaitya-guru helps us in a raw way, in a general way which is not very systematic and clear. Coming to Mahnta-guru we feel, Yes, with the help of my Chaitya-guru my internal hankering has been satisfied. Then with the help of our Mahnta-guru we come to find that clear direction in our Chaitya-guru. They are helping one another. By the help of the Mahnta-guru our ability to read the Chaitya-guru becomes more clear, more skilfully developed. Our reading of the innate Chaitya-guru becomes more clear as we become cleansed of the different thoughts and ideas mixed up from yog^s, jn^s, karm^s and so many other dif- ferent sections. The Chaitya-guru will give us more adherence to the Mahnta-guru, and in this way they each help the other. After receiving help from the Chaitya-guru we come to Mahnta- guru, but sometimes it may also happen that after accepting Mahnta- guru, the Chaitya-guru again becomes covered. The Mahnta-guru will then take the disciple and help him cleanse the dirt that has covered his Chaitya-guru. The Chaitya-guru may become buried by some anartha, or some Vaiava-apardha but the Mahnta-guru will come to give relief. Sometimes many may join the Mission and then go away. But the Guru does not allow them to easily leave. He tries his best to bring them back again and to a firm understanding: Why have you gone away in order to search for other things? The desire for money and the attraction of free mixing with the ladies disturbed me and drew me away. The Guide 59 If the Mahnta-guru is genuine he will say that these particular desires should be removed. They are not the real objectives. For the good of the disciple he will explain the temporary nature of any con- nection with such things and how minor they are, and again try to reinstate him. Some dirt may enter someone, but by the grace of the Gurus the dirt will be cleansed in no time and he will return to the real path. Dont disturb yourself with these little, tiny, filthy things. Dont go away in this way. Many immature and unfit persons may join the Mission, so it is not impossible that some sort of anarthas may come again to attack. It is like a fight. Sometimes one party gains ground, and sometimes that same party is losing. And ultimately the real party will win the battle. It is a battle. In everyones heart there will be a battle because we are sdhakas not siddhaswe are not fully realised souls, but we are following the process to realisation. Sometimes the devotees may feel defeated, and sometimes may even go mad. But on the whole they shall have to make progress. Therefore some sort of consideration and generosity should be allowed. We should think that we are in a hospital where there are so many diseased persons. This is not a place where all the healthy people liveit is not possible. We are also patients and there are so many other patients. Patients are of different types: some may even die, and some may have a relapse. But ignoring all these facts, with real interest for my own health I must go on with the help of a doctor. Taking his help by following the proper prescribed medicine and diet, I will be cured. Just because so many others are getting worse or dying, does not mean that my own health must also deteriorate. Another example is that in a school, all may not pass the exami- nations. Many will fail, but still a determined student must go on. We should not be discouraged from following the path of our eternal benefit just because of some unsuccessful candidates. I should not be cowed down by seeing this. I must be wakeful to the fact that this is my vital and only interest. I cannot just leave and go away. Everyone may go, but I must fight single-handed with the enemy. All may fly away, but, because this is my vital interest, I will stay 60 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology and fight single-handed with self-determination. Why? Because I have already understood and realised this to be my vital interest, so I cannot go back. If even once we find this to be deeply rooted within our heart, such determined resolve must come from within. We will find this to be the very thing we were searching after. Questioner: Can a patient also become a doctor? r^la Guru Mahrj: Yes. When he is fully cured, has studied about medicine, and has undergone the necessary education of a doctor, he may become a doctor. It is necessary to be qualified and also appointed. You see, first of all it is necessary to be qualified, then by the appointment of the higher administration you can become a doctor in the hospital. You may engage in private practice if you are qualified, but to become a doctor in a hospital you must have some sanction from above. In this way a sdhu can give assistance in several ways, but the cryya, holding a big position, should have sanction from above. And that is prpana-da. Questioner: Who will decide whether the patient is qualified to be a doctor? r^la Guru Mahrj: External sanction is not necessary by letter, but he is to be already awake and fixed in the internal world. Inspiration will come from the internal world: The people are suffering, and you have the medicine. You should distribute the medicine to the patients. This may be seen in a dream, but while awake also, internal inspiration will come to you, and, because you know the medicine and you know the symptoms of the disease, irresistibly you will advance to help the patients. You have the medicine and you cannot but engage yourself in treating them. You will see this more clearly than daylight, more really than this world of experience. People are suffering but you have the medicine. You used that medicine and you were cured. Now you find another to be suffering from the same disease. You have the cure in your hand, so why should you not apply it? What explanation do you have not to do so? It will not be for making money that you will give the medicine, The Guide 61 nor for fame, but it will be due to the internal urge to help them. And you will find that the noble predecessors have also asked you to do so: yre dekha, tre kaha ka-upadea mra jya guru ha tra ei dea (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, Madhya 7.128) r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu instructed, Whoever you meet, try to rescue them by talking to them about Ka. If there is a ditch and you see a man about to blindly fall into it, will you not try to save him? It is a natural feeling. When it is plain, so very plain that it will happen, but you dont help him, then you will be responsible. This common sense may be applied. But we must be sincere. The danger is that we must not be motivated by money, fame, or any worldly gain. Kanak, kmin^, and pratih are the three main disturbing elements that misguide us and draw us from this side to that. But when we are free from them, the street we walk shall be broad and clear. God is good, and you will like to see everyone becoming good by getting God. God is good and God is great. When that superior type of thinking will be clear to you, all your activities will be controlled only by that one principle of life. And with that you will go on helping others with the firm faith that this must be given to all: This is very tasteful. Please come to a safe position away from the danger-zone, and you will become happy. The tasteful medicine will make people happy, and if that is actually in your possession you cannot but feel the urge within to help others. With real knowledge all the general questions such as where we are to go, how to go, and why we should go, are to be solved in order to help others. ke mi, kene mya jre tpa-traya (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, Madhya 20.102) Who am I? Why am I troubled? And how can I achieve my desired end? These fundamental problems should be solved, and if you have the solution you must give it to others. My friends, come and solve your problems! That will be the mentality of a preacherand found very intensely in an cryya. 62 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Questioner: Someone may have a sincere urge, but he may not be completely aware of the danger, and he himself may become infected. r^la Guru Mahrj: The proper path follows a fine strategy: with the help of a higher agent he may approach, otherwise not. Without the help of a higher agent he will be nowhere, hell be lost. When he goes to cure a patient, if he will not be able to cure him, then the patients germ will attack him and he will also die with the patient. In that case he wont be of any help and he should not approach. He should inform the higher doctor and ask for better medicine to help his serious patient. In the case of doubt that, With my meagre medicine and meagre instruments I may not be able to cure this patient, one should not venture to approach the patient, but instead he will appeal to the doctor of a higher position. This is very reasonable. Following Mahprabhus advice to help others, still it may be found in rare cases that the doctor approaches with a good heart to cure the patient, but he himself dies. It is also not impossible, but not desirable. When an organised party approaches for relief-work, some sol- diers may be sacrificed before obtaining victory. The victorious party will also have to incur some loss when fighting with the enemy. Similarly, in the Mission some soldiers may be asked to approach the rich men, and the women, therefore sometimes some may be lost. But their loss will be for the time being, and again they will come back. We expect them to come back again because once someone has a taste, he will not be able to forget that. nehbhikrama-no sti, pratyavyo na vidyate svalpam apy asya dharmasya, tryate mahato bhayt (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 2.40) Whatever has been acquired is eternalit cannot be destroyed. kaunteya pratijn^hi, na me bhakta praayati (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 9.31) The assurance is given by Ka: Even if he has come to Me only for the time being, he has taken some medicine before leaving, so he ultimately must come to Me again. C entenar y ear - Chapter Six Specific Service By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Questioner: The disciple sees his Guru as absolute, but others may see the same person in a relative conception. So, is the Guru relative or absolute? r^la Guru Mahrj: Generally, the advice is that in the beginning the disciple will look towards his Guru as the representative of the Supreme Lord Himself. But when he makes some progress and inner enlightenment begins, he will gradually find that Ka, the Absolute, has a particular systeman organic wholeand He has His potencies of different varieties. According to the disciples inner awakenment he will have fitness for a particular class of service. That will be considered and he will be taken, under guidance, into that particular type of service. When one sees his Guru, gradually, according to his innate capacity and quality, he will find dsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vtsalya-rasa, or madhura-rasa. The government grants the service. He will face some examination, some test, and hell be put in a particular department where he will find his immediate boss under whom he will serve and be guided. That is the general situation and he will find his maximum gain there. At first the whole system is as if one. Then a devotee will find himself in a particular part of that system arranged according to his fit- ness and awakenment. Then finally he will be posted as a servitor to a particular Guru under whose guidance he will do anything and everything required of him. At first Guru is seen to be Ka Himself, and then he will be seen in a further way. Rdhr^ and Yaod are heading their particular 64 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology sections, and in madhura-rasa the parampar comes via Rpa Majari to our Gurudeva. There is onenessunitybut more efficient service may be drawn from a particular point rather than a higher point. Everyone has their particular capacity in service and if they serve from there they will be best utilised. If located in a higher circle for which he has no such fitness, enmity will be created and he will be the loser. Do you follow? Questioner: It is still not so clear to me. r^la Guru Mahrj: cryya m vijn^yt (r^mad-Bhgavatam 11.17.27)In the beginning stage we are told that the cryya, the Guru, is Ka. Then Raghunth Ds Goswm^, the cryya of pray- ojanathe ultimate goal, says that the cryyas position is not that of God Himself, but it is that of His most favouritemukunda- prehatve . Ultimately we find that Kas dearmost is in the depart- ment of His potency, and that is Guru. We have to harmonise between these two approaches. skd-dharitvena kintu prabhor ya priya eva tasya (r^ r^ Gurvaaka 7) In the beginning it is mentioned in the stra that Brahma means the Absolute as a whole, but by clearer vision we see that there are Nryaa, Vsudeva, Rmacandra and so many Forms of the Lord. And by even clearer estimation we will find Ka to be within. One time when Ka was in a conference with Lord Balarma and Uddhava, they saw a mass of light approaching them. Then after a little time a figure became visible within that mass of light. Then after the light mass approached even closer, they could see the figure of a male person. And when closer still, they could see, Oh, this is Devari Nrada who has come. In this way from far off you may get a conception of the whole, just as by viewing the Himalayas from a distance you can see many things. But as much as you approach, you will find just specific parts, but with more clarity. And when you actually arrive, you will find your Lord and your friends, and you will mix there. At that time you do not find the whole of the Himalayas, but you are located in a particular posi- Specific Service 65 tion. And there, not with the whole, you will find that the desired end of your life has been fulfilled. Similarly, when you approach Ka from afar, He is sat, cid, nandaHe is infinite. Then as you approach Him, because you are small, you will be located in a particular position. In this way according to your fitness you will be taken into a particular position of service. There you will engage in whatever service is required of you, and from there you will draw the fullest satisfaction of your nature. Guru means guide. At first we are guided by attraction to whole- sale BhagavnKaand this helps us to make progress towards Him. Then the more we gain, the more the big hazy vision is elimi- nated and a particular place becomes more clearly revealed. In this way our vision, actions and everything about us will become located in a particular part of the Infinite. And by carrying out my specific duty there, we will draw our highest benefit. In the department of rasasnta, dsya, sakhya, vtsalya, mad- hurayou shall gain admission in a particular section of service according to your capacity. In each rasa there are also so many sub- sections and different departments of service, and according to your innermost fitness and capacity you shall be given a place there. Ultimately you will be told, Do your duty here! and you will see to that duty. Whatever your immediate guide, your Guru, asks you to do, you will do that and thereby receive your best benefit. Religion is proper adjustment. There are so many cryyas, even in the Gau^ya Mission. You have come to your particular Guru in the Mission and under him there are many different departments of service. Some are selling books, some are delivering lectures, and so forth, and according to your own fitness you are given service in a particular department. But still you are in connection with the whole Mission. Wherever you are posted you are connected with the whole, but you have your specific duty in a particular place. You joined the Gau^ya Mission but it is a huge thing, with so many departments, so many mahs, and so many duties, but where is 66 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology that Mission? At first it is a hazy thing, a big thing, then after you were admitted you were taken in and placed in a particular direction. Your attention was directed towards some post, you went there and gradually you were given some duty to discharge. The whole of the Mission is yours, but still you have a particular department and a par- ticular duty, and that will increase more and more. It is possible that you may become the personal secretary of your Gurudeva, or a preacher, or a cook for your Guru Mahrj. And some may be asked to go to other places to preach. Sometimes those may be dangerous places for the devotees, but someone also has that kind of duty. Adjustment is necessary. First there is entrance within a Mission, then adjustment begins. Religion is proper adjustment according to the fitness of the man who is given admission. Do you follow now? Questioner: I follow, but I still have some query. r^la Guru Mahrj: What query can you still have?! You will be placed according to your fitness and necessity. Necessity is of dif- ferent types, and according to your fitness you will be given a particular duty. What difficulty is there in understanding this? Proper adjust- ment means that you are approaching the infinite, but you cannot swallow the infinite within you. You are detached, you are infinites- imal, and you are approaching the infinite, so you have to be located in a particular position of the infinite. You are to adjust in this way. You cannot devour the whole of the infinite within your belly. Do you like the idea of devouring the whole of the infinite within your belly? Therefore you have to be located in a particular infinitesimal position, and you will draw the maximum remuneration from that. If you are in some other place you will be the loser. According to fitness, adjustment comes to us. It is quite reasonable, and our duty is to pay full attention there. C entenar y ear - Chapter Seven The Willing and the Able By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Devotee: When we play a recording of our Gurudeva, are these sound vibrations actually transcendental or does the sound have to be heard from the person directly? r^la Guru Mahrj: When I joined newly I was sent with a par- ticular sannys^ to Benares. I appreciated his explanation of the Scriptures such as r^mad-Bhgavatam. One day he told me, Now the atmosphere here has been created in such a way that if I am ordered to construct a centre of our own, purchasing land, etc, then I can do, but that wont be sanctioned by the authorities, because in that way I would become increasingly glorified: I would gain more pratih. Presently I wrote in a letter to my Guru Mahrj: This Mahrj has created a good, favourable atmosphere here. If he is ordered to construct a centre of our own, perhaps he can do. I think Benares is an important place, a meeting place of all different religious sec- tions, so I feel we should have our own centre here. I pray that you may encourage this sannys^ to arrange for it to happen. We were at that time in a hired house and the Deities were also established there. The reply did not come directly to me, but the general-secretary wrote to me, We already know that his preaching is very successful. You try to listen to his analytical explanation of Bhgavatam and enrich yourself by that. No mention was made about the point I had made. After some time our r^la Prabhupd went to Benares for some other purpose, and perhaps when I was alone he suddenly said to me, What will be the effect of karmma-ka? Karmma-ka is to use our energy for our own satisfaction, and not meant for the satis- faction of Ka. What is the necessity of connecting something 68 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology according to our whim? Only we shall do what Ka will desire, and that will be service. He gave an example: Suppose a Vaiava or the Lord, has instructed, Bring me some flowers, and I collect the flowers but as I am about to give them to him he says, No, no. I dont want flowers, bring me water. If even at that time I press him, Oh, already you have ordered me to bring flowers, please accept these, it will be karmma-ka. It will be thrusting my will upon him, it will not be service. Because he is independent he may order some- thingand again he may cancel that same order. He is in such a position that he is not bound by his own previous expression, he is independent of that. The will is everything and he can express his will and he can withdraw his will. His position is such. Independent. His independence is of such quality and characteristic. Similarly, the highly powerful brhmaas can give a curse such as one that will cause full forgetfulnessand they can withdraw it too. Kara went to Parasurma disguised as a brhmaa. Then Parasurma taught him everything about weapons. One day Parasurma went to sleep putting his head on the thigh of Kara. Indra, in the form of a worm, then pierced through the thigh of Kara and bit into the head of Parasurma. Parasurma started, What is this? Blood flowed and smeared over his body. Parasurma then confronted Kara, You are not a brhmaa! A brhmaa cannot tolerate like this, therefore you must be a katriya. Why have you come to me? You have taken all this education about weapons from me by falsehood, therefore I throw a curse that at the time of your greatest need you will forget everything. He thereby withdrew all the learning he had given. Free-will is of such nature that it may some- times give a commitment, but if necessary it may withdraw from all commitment. There are so many political heads of a nation who sometimes give commitments and try to oblige. They try to oblige but, if nec- essary for the good, they may retract that and guide by ordinance. Similarly the Scriptures are something like that. The stras are written by the Mahtms who give instructions through the medium of so many symbols in the form of letters of the alphabet. That has The Willing and the Able 69 some value, but that value is not to the same degree as we find in the writer: it is something less. Similarly if the will, the centre from which the vibration is passing, is still in connectioni.e. if consent is thereit will work. Our Guru Mahrj gave Harinm initiation to a man in Dhaka who was due to pass away within a few days. He spoke the Mantra over the phone, his consent was there so it was effective. And when instruction is given as in a book, or recorded on a tape recorder and broadcast in many ways, it has its value, but the power-house is above all. may tatam ida sarvva, jagad avyakta-mrttin mat-sthni sarvva-bhtni, na cha tev avasthita (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 9.4) Everything is in Me, and I am nowhere: nothing is in Me. Acintya- bhedbheda-tattva. He can withdraw, and also He can pervade through everything. It is His will. Many people may read the stra, but if there is any curse upon someone he will not receive any benefit by such reading, or even from the Original Person or by any faithful con- nection with Him. He will be barred. Durvs cursed akuntal: You are neglecting me by engaging in deep meditation upon your husband. I am a respectable guest but you ignore me. I therefore curse you that if you are introduced to your husband he wont be able to remember a single thing about you. Then three friends of akuntal came and petitioned, Oh, i, be propitiated by us, please withdraw your curse. As a result, he mod- ified it so that if any reminding token be shown to the husband he will be able to remember her. The will, the intention, is the important part. What is coming must not be cut off from the source, the power-house. Not only the power- house keeper through whom it came, but also the faithful group, the associated clan, they can have some such power to stop as well as to open. It is not that if I have the tape recording I have received every- thing from him: that I have full possession of his property. It cannot be done like that. Still mainly it is conducted in such a manner through the Scriptures: the various sages have written so many stras for 70 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology us to read. However, our attention must be qualified to read such Scriptures. Mere reading is intellectualism and that wont do. We are to read in a proper waypraiptena paripranena sevay (with humility to the Guru who knows the truth, relevant inquiry to him and service to him), and jho bhgavat pada vaiaver sthne. Through His agent, if we properly read, then it will be beneficial, otherwise due to our deceptive nature we shall try to caste our own opinion in the name of the stra as akarchryya did. He interpreted the Vedas but he did not try to draw the real meaning of the Vedas. He caste his own opinion into the Vedas and gave that to us. Mahprabhu said of him, akarchryya has not accepted the teaching of the Vedas as it is. He modified the teachings of the Vedas by his own intellectual experience, therefore in his writings is not found their real purpose. This was the charge against akarchryya by Mahprabhu. Rpa Goswm^ and Santan Goswm^ did not only write what Mahprabhu taught directly to them, but, by the blessings of Mahprabhu they were able to express more. He told them, I am inspiring you. I am giving some good-will to you that will help you to face all possible difficulties when the necessity comes for you to refute the opposing elements. It will work at that time, my good-will will be with you. It will come to your relief at the very time you are in need. That was expressed by Mahprabhu to both Rpa and Santan. Well-wishing without the help of sound is also possible. There is assertion in different planes to help the surroundings. To think good of someone has its value. If the Guru thinks good about the disciples, they may thrive thereby and achieve the real object of their search. Both parties have some part to play: one party must do the willing, and the other must have the receiving quality and attitude, then it will be transmitted from one place to another. If the door is closed on one side there will be no effect. If there are the qualities of a Guru in one and the qualities of a disciple in another, when they both come together the transaction begins. Electricity cannot pass through anything and everything. Some things are non-conducting. The sincere receiving attitude from the The Willing and the Able 71 disciple is a necessary part otherwise no effect can be shown. If seeds are cast on stony ground no crops will grow. When current passes through a medium that cannot cent-per-cent transmit, it becomes modified. In this way modification comes from Guru to disciple: some colour is added and that is passed on and again added to, gen- eration after generation. Many disciples may hear from one Guru, but according to the var- iegatedness in their capacity of reception when they in turn will give delivery there will be some sort of difference. At first the teaching was one, but now there is a jungle. Ka in r^mad Bhagavad-g^t says, ima vivasvate yoga, proktavn aham avyayam vivasvn manave prha, manur ikvkave brav^t eva parampar-prptam, ima rjarayo vidu sa kleneha mahat, yogo naa parantapa sa evya may te dya, yoga prokta purtana (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 4.1-3) I first gave this instruction of karmma-yoga to Vivasvn, then from him to Manu who gave it to his son Ikvku. Coming down in this way it has gradually vanished. Now again I am saying that same old thing to you. The spiritual truth becomes coloured by our prejudices. It becomes contaminated and modified by mundane thought. On the banks of the Ganges there may be neem trees, tamarind trees, mango trees, etc. They all draw the same Ganges water for nourishment but the produce of one is bitter, another is acidic, and another gives sweet fruits. They all are nourished from the same source but according to their nature their produce vary. Both Indra and Virochan are students of the Brahman conception of so ham. Indra thought so means the tm, and Virochan thought like a demon that so means this body. So hamI am that. But who is that? Within the same class some thought it to refer to the soul, but some thought it referred to the body, thus they evolved their varying conceptions according to their local prejudices. C entenar y ear - Chapter Eight A Wonderful Touch By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj It cannot be denied that a kind of energy is necessary to maintain ones present position. Some sort of energy is necessary for that, but then we are to give some extra push forwards in order to go ahead, and that is all-important. A seeker after the truth will search after newer and newer planes, and that will be considered as living and accommo- dating. We are to become more and more accommodating, earnest and eager. sva-dharmme nidhana reya, para-dharmmo bhayvaha (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 3.35) The advice is given: Try to maintain your position even at the cost of your life, then at the next point, Go ahead. March on. Why was it first advised to maintain your present position? So that you may not fall back, but that does not mean you are not to make progress in the front. Sva-dharmme nidhana reyaEven at the cost of your life try to firmly maintain your position, does not mean you are not to go ahead. sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 18.66) Give up all considerations and take the risk of marching onwards. Only to help this, was the first advice given. First, At any cost you must maintain your position, and then, March onwards! These are relative and absolute considerations. A living spiritual conception must be of that type. The dire necessity is that in the background we address the question of how to maintainand improveour present position. A Wonderful Touch 73 Devotee: In the spiritual world does everyone hold the position of a Guru for those who enter? r^la Guru Mahrj: Of course, and whatever little help we will receive from anyone, we must be grateful to him. A person with good temperament must be thankful to all. Receiving even slight help he will feel, Yes, I am very thankful for your guidance. We are to learn the theory and science of gratitude. I am grateful to you and to everyone in the environment, the very domain is of that character. Everyone thinks himself to be a thief, I am a tres- passer. Only by the grace of the environment can I have a position here. They are all well-wishers except for myself, this should be the temperament. He will be busy and sometimes forgetful of himself in the intensity of his service. vaikuhera pthivy di sakala cinmaya. (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, di 5.53) We are to think, The environment of that land in which I aspire to live is made of better stuff than I am. We are to enter into a super-sub- jective domain. The attitude of all the newly recruited persons there should be: I am not of subjective character, I am of marginal potency, taastha, but I am receiving permission to enter the super-subjective area where everything holds a higher position than myself. Everyone there is of that consciousness. The air, the earth, the trees, etc. all hold a higher position than myself, but still I have been given per- mission by the supreme authority to wander here. Only, I have been given some service, and I am eager to render that service to this land. With this attitude in the background, one should live there, and in the foreground one will become accustomed to discharging his particular duty. I have come and I am treading on a soil whose intrinsic value is really superior. A child reveres his mother but he may be taken on her lap, such is the example of our situation when we enter Vaikuha and Goloka. The whole atmosphere is higher than myself and is to be revered, but still they have embraced me and taken me in their lapsvarpa- aktiand I have been asked to do some duty there. The whole 74 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology environment is to be revered, and I am allowed to live there only as a matter of grace, not as a matter of right. We are taastha, and as a matter of right we may be cast in Brahmaloka, the marginal potency, so we must become conscious of this fact. Before enlisting our name in the Ka consciousness school we must have this primary knowl- edge. We are having the chance to enter where? In a revered land, Gods throne. Only for a particular service am I entering the temple which holds a superior position. Wholly for service am I entering, and by their gracious nature they are drawing me there. I am being taken on my mothers lap. I take her feet-dust upon my head, but she is taking me, including my feet, upon her lap. Devotee: With such bright prospect, why do we sometimes find devo- tees leaving the Gau^ya missions? r^la Guru Mahrj: It will happen only if there is something wanting in us, so we must try to keep up the high level we had during our Guru Mahrjs day. It is recorded that the highest test comes when a j^va is passing out from the clutches of my, illusion. At that time the personification of my, Mydev^, comes with folded hands to pray, Why do you leave me? Allow me to serve you. I am at your disposal and I am ready to serve you in any way. Dont leave me. She was so cruel to punish them when they were within her clutches, but when they are leaving she approaches very modestly, Why are you leaving me? I want to render service. Please be with me. Pabaddha bhavet j^va, pamukta sadivawhat was once her prey has now become her master. So the friendly request also exists. If we have real attraction for the higher life, we are to pass that charming aspect which will try its best with sweet proposals and offer- ings to keep us within its jurisdiction. Such is the nature and we must be aware of it. So, not only God, save us from our enemies, but also, God save us from our friends! sada ceate svasy, prakter jnavn api prakti ynti bhtni, nigraha ki kariyati (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 3.33) Nature is indomitable, so it is quite natural that one may fall prey to his own previous nature, but how can we be saved from the results A Wonderful Touch 75 of our past activitiesour acquired previous tendencies? The key is here: indriyasyendriyasyrthe, rga-dveau vyavasthitau (Bg. 3.34) Each sense has its corresponding external attractive objects. If you can stop the tendencies just as they are beginning, you can be suc- cessful. But if you allow them to progress, you will be undone. Only at the starting point can they be checked. If you allow them to contact with the enemy party you are lost. prakti ynti bhtni, nigraha ki kariyati (Bg. 3.33) However wise you may be, you will be helpless because my has such great power. Only if you can catch the tendencies as they sprout will it be well and good, otherwise at the next moment they will go beyond your control. That is the suggestion given by the Lord Himself, Dont allow yourself in any way to have negotiation with the other party. Try to nip it in the bud. If it is allowed to grow a little, it will be beyond your control. This advice is general to all material nature. So, every event is to be tackled in proper time. Another broad point is: indriyi pary hur indriyebhya para mana manasas tu par buddhir buddher ya paratas tu sa eva buddhe para buddhv sastabhytmnam tman jahi atru mah-bho kma-rpa dursadam (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 3.42-43) A royal road giving a very broad and comprehensive control of all evil propensities is recommended here. How to get that relief? First you are to consider the importance of your senses compared with matter; then, the importance of the mind over the senses. Then you are to con- sider, concentrate and understand the efficacy, fineness and impor- tance of the faculty of judgement within you. Surpassing that, you are required to go higher and search for the cause from which the intelli- gence comesits source. If for a second you can have a touch of that substance you will find a wonderful layer that is extraordinary in every point compared with that of the plane in which you are now living. It is so charming and so attractive that it will help you to bid good-bye 76 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology once and for all to this material charm. If even for a second you can have a touch of that higher substance, the material pleasure will turn into trash. Everything there is wonderfulall dealings and experience. caryavat payati kacid enam caryavad vadati tathaiva cnya caryavac cainam anya oti rutvpy ena veda na caiva kacit (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 2.29) The unintelligible, charming conception of that high plane will give some particular divine type of prospect that will at once turn all your material prospects into trash. Even if you come back, it still wont have any real influence upon you. Such is the realisation of the tm, what to speak of Paramtm: that is more and more laudable and desirable. Eva buddhe para is the tm. In the beginning, with the help of your reason concentrate even for a second there. Your inquisitive ego may even for a second meet with your real selfjahi atru mah-bho, kma-rpa dursadamthen all the charm for mate- rial pleasure, both gross and subtle, will bid you adieu for ever. Simplicity is the first qualification. If you are really simple, or sin- cere, then automatically you cannot but come under the divine feet of Mahprabhu, r^ Chaitanyadev. It is so plain and so un-artificial. Love is a plain truth that should attract everyone. Even more than general love, Divine Love will attract all normal persons, it cannot but be. It is only necessary to be simple and unprejudiced. The antithesis is the only thing drawing us back from God, otherwise it will be found to be the plane of universal love. And universe does not mean to a particular part of the universe, but the whole. Love is coming from the Absolute. Is there such a fool in the midst of mortality in this world who will not worship He who even the immortal worship? It is a great wonder that there can be such a person who will avoid such worship just to undergo all the mortal sufferings. C entenar y ear - Chapter Nine Faith and Harmony By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Here in the mundane plane, eliminating God, everyone is self- centred therefore there is clash and reaction. But in the higher realm, with harmony, there is no clash. In that plane any apparent clash exists to promote inner wealth. In this mundane plane there is apparent friendship but inner ani- mosity, but in the God-centred plane there is apparent competition but inner friendship because the flow of God-service is common to everyone. Ka consciousness is the most accommodating. We are to con- sider that it is beyond justice. It is the land of mercy consideration. Our highest goal is from the consideration of mercy, not justice. It is incon- ceivable, but above justice is the plane of mercy and affection, and that is Ka consciousness. It even goes over what is our due, there- fore it is high. The consideration there is crossing our capacity, so there is no room for any complaint. Everything is coming through affection and it is not based upon any justice according to our capacity, so we have no right to make any judgement. If any position will be given to us there, it will be by extended affection. On the whole, to enter into the plane of divinity means grace. We have no rights, and He may not even allow us to enter there. Only we must have as our visa the good-will to serve that land, and not to engage in treachery, otherwise we will not be allowed entrance. Faithful contribution to that land is raddh, with that we may be taken innot only taken in but we shall find all home-comfort there and full freedom. The fullest freedom is in Ka consciousness, and that is above justice. The law of the country is ignored, and more benefit is allowed. We will get more freedom, comfort, and everything there in Vndvan. Why? 78 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Because it is a transaction of natural faith and love, affection, etc. It is inconceivable, acintya khalu ye bhv na ts tarkea yojayet The Upaniads say, Dont venture to test that plane with your reason. It is beyond the capacity of your thinking, it has different laws, so dont try to approach there with your calculations. So, when we apparently see a clash between persons who are trying for realisation, we must understand it properly. We may feel discour- aged: They are approaching towards harmony, so why should they come in clash? But we find it happens, and it may be of different types according to the plane in which the clash takes place. In Vaikuha we find that the four Kumras were going to visit Nryaa, but Jaya and Vijaya appealed to them not to go at that time. The four Kumras were infuriated and threw a curse upon Jaya and Vijaya. We sometimes find this apparently undesirable clash between the devotees, though ulti- mately it is all for some higher purpose for the Lords satisfaction. Clashes can even be seen in Ka-l^l. Of course, in Vndvan competition is of the highest type and we are to understand that it is necessary. It is planned by Yogamy to enhance the satisfaction of Ka. Different plans are designed by Yogamy, and the apparent clash is designed purposely in order to produce a peculiar satisfac- tion in Ka. Such things are found even within the various groups including that of r^mat^ Rdhr^. In Kas Vndvan pastimes we even find so many asuras set against His l^l, but those demons have a contributionin a negative wayin that a hero must have some incidents to show his heroism. To kill asuras is a part of heroism. We even find clashes within the same groupgroups within a groupbut what is found we shall try to take as part of l^l. The cri- terion of l^l is that it happens for the satisfaction of the Centre. We also find clashes, even severely, within the l^l of the most magnanimous incarnation of the Lord, r^man Mahprabhu. Adwaita Prabhu and r^vsa Pait presented themselves as members of the aris- tocratic class, but Nitynanda Prabhu and Harids hkur represented just the opposite: the common mass. It is recorded in r^ Chaitanya Bhgavat that one day soon after the miscreants Jagi and Mdhi Faith and Harmony 79 had been converted and included in the sak^rttan, Adwaita chryya revolted: You are taking in the ordinary people of the lower section. This makes it difficult for persons of dignified position like myself and r^vsa Pait to remain here in this clan of sak^rttan. When Mahprabhu heard this it pierced him in the core of His heart. He could not tolerate such a statement. He immediately left the party, ran straight to the Ganges and hurled Himself in the waters. Nitynanda Prabhu and Harids hkur quickly followed the Lord and they also jumped in. Nitynanda took the Lord by His shoulders and Harids by His feet and they pulled Him out from the waters of the Ganges. Mahprabhu said, All right, but I shall go and stay with Nandan chryya. Nandan chryya was a devotee whose home was on the banks of the Ganges a short way from the town of Nabadwip. Mahprabhu hid Himself there and instructed, Dont disclose to Adwaita chryya that I am here. Then Adwaita chryya Prabhu thought to himself, What have I done? I could not control myself. My aristocratic sentiment came out so suddenly and it hurt and struck the sentiment of Mahprabhu so much so that He fled and jumped into the Ganges. Adwaita chryya then fasted. He mourned, What have I done? After two days, news of Adwaita chryyas resolve to fast till death reached Mahprabhu. Then Mahprabhus heart melted again and He approached Adwaita chryya. chryya, get up, I am leaving my hide-out and I am coming to you. Quoting a verse He explained that by the order of a minister representing the King so many persons are hanged, but that same representative of the King who has hanged so many by the Kings order, he also may be hanged by the order of the King. The Absolute is such, please dont mind. Now get up and take Prasdam. In this way Adwaita chryya was pacified. Furthermore we hear that sometimes Mahprabhu showed him honour due to his age. Adwaita chryya was very senior in age, he may even have been more senior than Mahprabhus father, however he always consid- ered that Mahprabhu was not a man, therefore he constantly tried to show respect to Him. But Mahprabhu did not allow, What! You are 80 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology senior. You are in the rank of My guardians, the rank of My parents. You should not show honour to Me, rather I am to show you honour. He began forcibly taking the feet-dust of Adwaita chryya who became distressed. Then Adwaita Prabhu thought, I have to make a plan so I can receive His punishment. So he went to his ntipur house and began to preach jna-mrga showing that mukti is the highest end, and bhakti is lower. The principle of bhakti admits that God is fully inde- pendent, We may try to please Him, but He may or may not be pleased, it is His will. So what is the necessity of wild-goose-chasing? God may or may not be propitiated and we may or may not get His Grace, it is all uncertain. But mukti is in our hand: by certain practices we can enter into samdhi, therefore mukti is our real end and friend. We should take to that. In this way Adwaita chryya began to preach in the ntipur camp. The news reached Mahprabhu: Adwaita chryya used to preach for Your camp but now he preaches against Your principle. Then one day Nitynanda Prabhu and Mahprabhu went to ntipur, and what a scene! Mahprabhu began to give a good beating to the old chryya, Why have you invited Me and brought Me down here? By your invi- tation and attraction I have come down but now you are going against Me. What is your reason? Mahprabhu began to slap him. Harids hkur shuddered, What is this? I am seeing inconceiv- able things. Nitynanda Prabhu stood there and found Himself to be relishing something, and wondering what more things would come out. S^t hkur^, Adwaitas wife, protested, No, no. Dont beat that old man so hard. He will be finished! Stop your beating. But Adwaita chryya came through smiling: Now I have taken revenge on You. You always come to take my feet-dust. But now see! You have come to punish me, so who is superior, myself or You? In this way the chryya came out smiling and everything was paci- fied, rather Mahprabhu was a little indisposed. Sometimes we see such things also within the devotee section. Such things are there! In Dvrak also we find clashes. We find in Dvrak that there was much dispute about a gem. The father of Satyabhm, Satrjit, Faith and Harmony 81 gained that gem by worshipping the sun-god. It was known as the Syamantaka Jewel, but it was presently taken away by one after another. Prasena, the younger brother of Satrjit, took that Syamantaka Jewel. He wore it around his neck and went into the forest in order to hunt. While in the forest a lion became charmed with the grace of the gem, he killed Prasena and took it. Then the bear Jmbavn, Rmachandras servant, fought with the lion, killed him and took away the gem. Anyhow a rumour began that Ka had somehow captured the gem, and that it was all His diplomacy. Because of this, Ka thought, The burden is now on Me, so I shall have to search for that gem, take it and give it to its proper place. A bad name has come upon Me, so to clear My name I am to search for the gem. He therefore searched along the way that Prasena went. He then followed the footprints of the lion and found a place where a bear and the lion had been fighting. The lion lay dead. Following the footprints of the bear Ka reached a hole in the earth. He entered there, and that is a story in itself. Anyhow, when Rmachandras servant, Jmbavn, finally understood the situation after fighting for 15 days or so, he came out and offered the gemand his daughter, Jmbavat^to Ka. Then again the gem was lost. The suspect was atadhanv. It was suspected that by some means atadhanv had captured it, although it was not the case. On hearing the rumour atadhanv became afraid, They think I have the gem, so I will be killed. Though he had not taken the gem, the rumour was so much against him that he became frightened and ran away from that place. Because he was running away, Ka and Balarma followed him. Ka ran fastest, captured atadhanv and killed him. Searching him He found no gem and so became puzzled. By this time Balarma had caught up with Him and Ka told him, I have killed atadhanv in vain. No gem is found here. Balarma then exclaimed, Oh, You are deceiving me. You have become so unfaithful. All right, You go back, I am going to Jarsandha, the enemy camp. There he began to train Duryodhan. Such l^ls do take place and are to be traced in r^mad-Bhgavatam. 82 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology When explaining all these things, our r^la Guru Mahrj used to say, These hindrances come on the path in order to make it more valuable and in order to deceive those of less faith and the unfaithful. Those who are fortunate souls will be able to cross over all these inci- dents and will be hopelessly attracted by the sweetness of the l^l of Ka. They will be given entrance there. Purposely these hindrances are posted along the way so that ordi- nary people may not enter. Ka-l^l will come to those who have deep faith and who have some real taste for the thing. In spite of all these hindrances it will come to those for whom this is unavoidably charming, and who, by descending grace, are helplessly drawn beyond such apparent hindrances. The technical name for this l^l is asura-mohan. This has been planned in order to deceive the asura types: those of undivine character. So we are to be careful about all these things. There can be quar- rels amongst the parties up to the very highest. With such a beautiful flower, so soft and good-looking as a rose, why should there be any thorns? Its roots draw nourishment from the earth, and that sap produces such a soft flower, such a beautiful thing. Why should that sap also pro- duce so many thorns on the stem? So, there is thesis, antithesis and syn- thesis. There is assertion of a subject, then comes opposition, then higher harmony comes in synthesis where there is found higher grouping, higher unity and harmony. Then again that becomes the thesis and so antithesis comes and again both become harmonised. This is the nature of l^l, and such nature is there to help. Sometimes we may find that in order for a drama not to become monotonous some light-heartedness may be introduced to make the audience laugh. Just as a clown may be introduced in the midst of a drama to prevent any monotony, the asura-mohan-l^l may be neces- sary to give variety to Kas pastimes. We have to properly adjust many things when considering Kas l^l. I was astonished to find in r^mad-Bhgavatam that when Ka was about to enter Dvrak after a long absence, a procession party from the town came to receive Him. It is described in r^mad-Bhgavatam that included in the procession were prostitutes dancing. I thought, Faith and Harmony 83 What is this? In Dvrak there are prostitutes? I was shocked, rather, to find this. How can Dvrak accommodate prostitutes? In heaven there are also prostitutes, but we are to analyse what is at the basis of all this. Both good and bad exist, but badness is only found in the mundane realm. What is here must have its origin in the higher realmand this is only a perverted reflection of that. Everything that is found here is also there first. From there its reflection has come here as the perverted manifestation. The main difference is that every- thing in that spiritual realm is full of serving attitude, but here it is all with enjoying attitude. We cannot drag everything within our reason and arguments, but still we are to try to understand things according to our capacity, faith and realisation. Despite all this, sweetness is sweet and truth is truth. Truth, however strong it is, is truth. We are to accommodate this in our mind. We should not think that only this mundane purity is the basis to prove transcendental divinity: we are not to take the standard from here and apply it there. We are to understand service to be so pure. Draupad^ had five husbands, but if we take her name then we will be purified: ahaly-draupad^-kunt^-tr-mandodar^ yath pacakany smaret nitya mahptaka nanam All these five ladies had more than one husband, but they were gained by circumstance. The scholars may make you feel cautious, but dont think in that way: if you take their name you will be purified such is their position. It is not for lust. It is not for mean lust that they gained so many husbands, but at the bottom of it all is sacrifice. You are to remember that. You are to study the depth before giving eval- uation. You are to understand and follow the basis, the very founda- tion. Sacrifice can make anything pure. You are to understand the very fundamental things of existence. The degree of purity or impu- rity does not depend on form, but substance. We are to draw our atten- tion towards that. We are to try to understand the substance, and not so much the form. C entenar y ear - Chapter Ten Focussed to Guru By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj In r^mad-Bhgavatam Nrada Muni gives the following advice as a general recommendation as to how to get free from unwanted desires, kma: asakalpj jayet kma, krodha kma-vivarjant arthnarthekay lobha, bhaya tattvvamarant (r^mad-Bhgavatam 7.15.22) We are not to allow ourselves to contact or enter any plan of life. We are to be always open to deal with the present, not with any plan for the future. If we do not have any kma, any plan, then anger may not come. When there is some obstruction in fulfilling a plan we become angry in life, but if there is no plan of life then we are always open to serve the present and in that way we are clearfree from debt and obligation. Whatever comes in the present we do as our duty. But when there is a plan we become angry if any disturbance will come in carrying that out. Arthnarthekay lobhaand lobha, greed, can be conquered just by seeing the reactions of money. If we collect energy from out- side, that money comes with the sin and mentality of the man from whom we collected it. It is contaminated with their particular men- tality. If we have this conception we may not have greed for any energy that comes under our command. Bhaya tattvvamarantwe apprehend so many good and bad thingswe fear. In order to conquer fear we are to cultivate under- standing of the real nature of this plane: it all runs by the Lords will Focussed to Guru 85 but we are throwing in our separate interest which comes back to us as reaction. We are to accept that our individual opinion may not be successful here. Everything that comes in clash with the Absolute Will shall have to vanish. With this idea we will be open in the pre- sent and free from any future plans. All these advices are expressed, but in the end it is given: etat sarvva gurau bhakty, puruo hy ajas jayet (r^mad-Bhgavatam 7.15.25) There is only one thing by which we can conquer all these abnor- malities. What is that? Guru-bhakti. I am a servant of my Guru. Whatever he shall say, I shall do. Concentrate on this point. We are to withdraw all plans and put everything just in this one point: Whatever will come through the Guru, the representation of the Lord, I shall do that. There is no necessity of any other thinking, planning, designing, etc.: I want this, I shall do that, is all unneces- sary. We are only to concentrate on one point. The representation of the Supreme is therethe Guruand what is wanted by him, we shall do that. Everything is focussed to that one point without seeing any- thing else. Exclusive focus is illustrated in the example of Drochryya testing his students by asking them to aim their arrows at the eye of a toy bird placed in a tree. Each aimed in turn, and Drochryya asked, What do you see? The first replied, The bird, the tree, etc. Dissatisfied, Drochryya said, Stand aside. But when it came to the turn of Arjjuna, he replied, I can see the bird. Can you see the whole of the bird? No. Only the head. The whole of the head? No. Only the eye of the bird. You cannot see anything else? No. I can see only the eye of the bird. Only then was Drochryya satisfied. In this way all should be concentrated to one point, I have con- nection with the representation of the Supreme, the Guru, and I am at 86 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology his disposal. Whatever he shall say, I shall do. I am not a servant of anyone else. etat sarvva gurau bhakty, puruo hy ajas jayet (r^mad-Bhgavatam 7.15.25) In that way there will be no anger, no lustnothing. If one can do such exclusive Guru-bhakti it will strongly keep him in a safe position, and that is the key to very easy and quick success. yasya deve par bhaktir, yath deve tath gurau tasyaite kathit hy arth, prakante mahtmana (etsvatara Upaniad 6.23) A person who serves Guru and Ka can understand the real meaning of the Scriptures, otherwise the real meaning will not be revealed and one will not be able to follow their real purpose. That is the apriori method of studying the Vedas. cryyavn puruo vedathe meaning of the Upaniads can be understood only by those who have their Guru. Not everyone can understand the real meaning of the Upaniads, but only those who are at the disposal of a real Guru can have access there. By intellec- tualism we cannot understand their real meaning. Only by approaching the Guru with a serving attitude will the meaning be revealed. He will come and express Himself to us, and we are to have the mood, I am unqualified and low, but He will come and give admission irrespective of any intellect, study or anything else on my part. Research scholarship in the illusory world is all quite a different approach. Scientific research is going from one misconception to another misconception. It is all misconception. It is error and has false- hood at the root. Acintya-bhedbheda. The Centre is such that every- thing is at His command: Let there be light, and there was light. Let there be water, and there was water. The research scholars try to research the nature and cause of every- thing, but ultimately it is all His sweet will. Neglecting that, they simply research, research, research, but if His will is withdrawn, every- thing will be falsified. Focussed to Guru 87 We do not want the apparently deep knowledge of the researchers. We have no concern with what is actually this partial, infinitesimal, sur- face knowledge which is so attractive to those floating, giving and taking, in that section. It is all false and black-marketeering. Everyones money is black and they are transacting with that. In this society false notes are being circulated as real currency. Acintya-bhedbheda. Everything is His will, and it is the greatest adventure to search for Ka, to search for the root of the whole infi- nite. It needs sufficient courage and preparedness to face the risk. To go to discover the North Pole or the highest peak of the Himalayas needs so much courage and involves risk, then what to speak of the courage necessary to find out the Absolute Cause of the Whole. Internal couragespiritual courageis necessary. We are to have souls courage and have the confidence of deep faith. We are to understand the noble character of the faith within us. Without electricity we cannot have connection with the moon and other planets. Our hands and eyes cannot contact there. Faith can connect us with the farthest things. All other methods fail. Faith is substantial, it is not part of an illusion of the mind. The whole mind is a concocted thing: it is a source of forgery. Faith is not to be found there. Faith is a function of the soul. We cannot even see what is within our own body without the help of some apparatus. Through faith, raddh, the soul can approach and see the higher world. By faith we can approach the highest, noblest thing, not by our hand or by the help of any mundane elements. C entenar y ear - Chapter Eleven Unadulterated Purity By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Question: Mahrj, what is the meaning of chastity for the proper disciple? r^la r^dhar Mahrj: Chastity is faithfulness to the cause for which we have come. It is a relative term. Chastity in the absolute sense is unchangeable adherence to Ka consciousness. There also may be relative chastity, such as when someone sincerely pursues his interest in a particular plane. However that type of sincerity is not complete. We think sincerity is only complete when one comes to accept Ka consciousness of Godhead. Other forms of chastity are all relative. No knowledge separate from Ka consciousness is chaste. In Ka consciousness also we may not think that by begin- ning, by getting the touch of Ka consciousness we have acquired the whole thing. When we get the pure conception of Ka consciousness the hazy conceptions will vanish. There are also different stages of realisation in pure Ka consciousness and by its degree of awakening we become more and more chaste. Chastity means our adherence to the truth. The truth that we have come to realise, that truth is in Ka consciousness. Ka con- sciousness is not a limited thing that one can capture in his hand and swallow. It is of infinite character. There is gradation and there is room for progress in Ka consciousness. We will say that one is chaste due to his own sincere progress, not due to adherence to the figure, the formal conception. vyso vetti na vetti v Such a strong expression is also there, vyso vetti na vetti v. All rights reserved. Ka consciousness is unlimited. Still there is the Unadulterated Purity 89 possibility of conceiving its purity in its unadulterated form, and the chryyas are giving that to us. In the beginning a new student who gains admission to a college cannot expect to know anything and everything. We need to have systematic, properly adjusted knowledge. There are many amongst our group who heard r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur Prabhupds advices and words, but only partly. One day a senior man and sannys^, repeated something r^la Prabhupd had said. Although it related to a particular time and place, he wanted to utilise that in a universal way. I gave some objection: Mahrj, r^la Prabhupd told this, it is true, but this is not the whole thing. He explained other things also, therefore we have to harmonise. We cannot ignore the other part of his advice. We have to come into adjustment and systematic understanding of the words of r^ Gurudeva. The partial aspect may sometimes lay stress on a particular point and who has attentively caught that, he may only take that and nothing beyond. But systematic knowledge of the whole must be understood. In a progressive life the plane where one devotee may want to withdraw from to make further progress, may be the goal of attainment for another devotee. The object of attainment for the kaniha-adhikr^, a madhyama-adhikr^ may with- draw from in his attempt to climb higher, as in ascending a staircase step by step. Under the guidance of one Guru there are so many different sections of disciples. All the students may not be equal in their real- isation. One can understand to a certain extent, another can under- stand something more, and another can understand even more. In this way there may be gradation. Even the senior disciples may fall back and the juniors may go up. That is also possible. We have seen and you can also see now. Many of the older ones have gone away and the newcomers are showing greater energy. You may find that amongst yourselves, as we also found amongst ourselves. There are no stereo- typed rules. It is a living thing. Ka is there. He says that He has not finished Himself in His own stras. What I have given in the stras, you must do that, but 90 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology one who crosses that to come to Me is My higher servitor. So, Ka is living and He is above all. A transaction, a trade may be made by cash or by loan. Whether trading, or purchasing with cash, or pur- chasing with a loan, He is there, He is master, He is autocrat. His dealings should not be limited even by the Scriptures. He says, Even crossing the Scriptures I exist, even though those directions are given by Me. jjaiva gun don, maydin api dvakn dharmman satyajya ya sarvvn my bhajet sa ca sattama So, directions are of different classes. And Ka says, Sometimes it will be necessary to show devotion to Me, even crossing My own laws. We must also consider the realisations of higher devotees. So many things are there, but the main thing is faithfulness. To die for the cause. Die to live! Simplicity means to be independent of ancient prejudices, to be empty, to be un-possessed of the mal-possession. To be clear. To be free of foreign possession, that is simplicity. Formal and substantial. They are two different things, and here is the main difficulty in our progress. reyah sva-dharmme.... Progress means to deal with these two difficulties, to stick to ones former position, and beyond that, to make progressadvance. If advancement is not sure, it is judicious to stick to the former position. If there is any doubt of progress one should stick to the former position. But that is not progress. Progress means to leave the former position and go ahead. Only one who is hopeful of his bright future, should leave his former position and go to advance. Those who are of doubtful men- tality, suspicious mentality, it is better for them to stick to their former position where they already have a consolidated foundation. They should take their stand there. According to his own progress he cannot but see that some things must be rejected and some new things in front must be invited to come near. Progress means this. In his book Bhad-Bhgavatmtam, r^la Santana Goswm^ has given sambandha-jna, the knowledge of the relationship between Unadulterated Purity 91 ourselves and the Lord. We have to follow that closely. That means proper adjustment. At first we shall have some sort of approximate knowledge and that will be realised more and more. Taking our stand in a particular position if we look out we will be able to say, this is here, this is there, this is lower, that is higher. In Ka con- sciousness we must understand sambandha-jna. What I do not find to be my own I must not take risk for that. But when I find this is my own even though it may be a little far, then I must jump there. This is my own and my inner hankering is only searching for that thing, and if I find that is within my reach, then I must jump there. It depends on our sincerity and our proper understanding. There are many who cannot control the temptation from within to exploit the Guru or Kaguru-bhog^, ka-bhog^and create some facilities for their own personal exploitation. That is also pos- sible. A real student, a bonafide student, must be alert on all sides whether non-Ka is coming in disguise. We must try to recognise that and save ourselves. If we are sincere no one can disturb us. Vibh^an said: We must be very careful about the my-tactics of the opposing party. Hanumn was keeping Rma and Lakma in a room made of his tail, and Vibh^an warned Hanumn: Be very careful! Mah^rvana will come and try to deceive you in disguise. Then at last Mah^rvana came in the garb of Vibh^an himself and took them away. There is a good possibility that my will approach us. We have to be very careful to protect those valuable tendencies within us and maintain our taste and the vision of our inner awakening. We must maintain that and if possible make some progress in our line. That is our interest. God save me from my enemies. And, God save me from my friendsthat expression is also there. You must be alert that as a friend someone may not go to deceive you. You must be so much careful. At your own risk pray to the Supreme, the Chaittya-guru, for giving you the right direction: What is what? What is to be accepted? It is a crucial point. 92 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology I dont want to take the responsibility. Mahprabhu and Ka also do not take the responsibility. Even though Ka can control everything, He also says: You are free. In the r^mad Bhagavad-g^t Ka instructs: I have said what I had to say. Now, Arjjuna, you decide what you want to do. Vimyaitad aeena. Think it over exhaustively. Think it over to the best of your ability and then decide what step you are going to accept. Jaya O Viupda Paramahasa-parivrjakcryya-varyya Aot- tara-ata-r^ r^mad Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj, k^ jaya! C entenar y ear - Chapter Twelve Surrender, Service, Dedication all done through raddh By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj In Ka consciousness the quality of wholesale dedication is neces- sary. It is indispensable. Partial dedication will not do; in connection with Ka the demand is wholesale, and nothing less will do. He is an autocrat. The demand from the autocrat is categorically different. Ka is not satisfied with any partial service. He wants to swallow the whole thing, nothing less. He has the demand of an autocrat, but He is the absolute good, He is the beautiful, He is the harmony, and He is the lovebut His demand is such. Self-giving is the symptom of raddh, faith. Without self-giving, intellectualism will have no value. Reading Scriptures will have no value, and also the physical association of the sdhu will have no value if there is no raddh. Many living entities including bugs and mosquitos have physical association with the sdhus, but asso- ciation through dedication is necessary. Sraddh is all-important. To have raddh means to have the mood that if we dedicate every- thing to Ka, we will get everything. We will achieve whatever is necessary: wholesale fulfilment. The path of that is dedication, raddh, and sev, service, and therefore our Guru Mahrj laid much emphasis on service. We were not allowed so much to read even r^mad- Bhgavatam or the books by the Six Goswm^s, but our time was to be utilised in service. The serving nature will connect you with the real thing. Neither scriptural knowledge nor the close association with a saint has any meaning if it is not done with dedication, self-surrender, self-giving. 94 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Physical association alone has no meaning. It must all be done through raddh, and service, so much so that if a sdhu or Guru asks, Read this book, then it will be service; but if I read a book to enhance my knowledge, it may be jna but not service. We can only have real progress through sevonmukhe hi jihvdau, otherwise everything may be imitation. If we do not approach with the spirit of service, every- thing may be imitation, and we wont come in contact with reality. This is the most important point, and it is the speciality of the Gau^ya Mah, our cryyas, our Gurudevas, and also of Mahprabhu and Rpa Goswm^. Surrender, service, and dedication: this is the key to deal with the infiniteVaikuha. Without knowledge and without much energy one can attain fulfilment. It is not necessary to have the energy to be able to move a mountain. Also to read all the Scriptures in the world and put them within our belly will not produce any good. A typical example was shown in the Mahbhrata. Ka fore- told that when the rajasuya yaja of Mahrj Yudhihir would be finished, a particular bell there would ring automatically. In that way everyone would know that the yaj was completed. The sacrifice was held and everything was finished, but the bell did not ring. Bh^ma asked Ka, You said that the bell would ring automatically. Everything has now been finished but it is not ringing. Why not? Ka replied, No. One thing is still remaining. What is that? Vaiava-sev, the service of a Vaiava. Bh^ma was surprised: What do You say? So many munis, is, Nrada, Vysadeva, and even You Yourself, are all satisfied with having been well-fed, yet You say that Vaiava-sev has not been done? Yes. So where is that Vaiava? Ka then indicated, Go to the outskirts of town, and there you will find a particular Vaiava of the lowest caste. He does not go anywhere, but he is satisfied by taking the Name of the Lord and leading a full life of devotion without any care for the world. Surrender, Service, Dedication 95 Hearing this, the Pavas went with a chariot to receive that man. They found him, an ordinary poor man of the lower class, and they approached him. He was perplexed: What is this? Oh, so many impor- tant men have come to my cottage. What is the matter? He became very much panic-stricken. Then they petitioned him with folded palms, We have come to bring you to take some food at the place of the yaja. What to do? He could not avoid their order. Draupad^ had to cook, so she prepared various palatable dishes. She thought, Vaiava-sev has not been done. So many is, munis, and even Lord Ka has been fed, but Vaiava-sev has not been done! So with all her skill she cooked foods of various types, and the man was fedbut the bell did not ring. Bh^ma asked, What is the matter? He has finished eating but the bell has not rung. Ka said, There must have been some offence against Vaiava- sev, and therefore the bell did not ring. What do you say?Do any of you have any doubt or bad conception about this man? The Pavas then asked one another if any of them had thought any evil about him. At last Draupad^ admitted, I had some thought in my mind that the man is low-born, and although I prepared so many curries with the utmost attention and skill, he mixed all the prepara- tions together and then ate that. He does not know how to eat because he comes from a very low classthis is what I had in my mind. Ka explained, There is some contempt for the Vaiava, and therefore the bell has not rung. There is no other course than for you to go to him again, bring him, and again feed him. So the Pavas went and brought him back. This time all of them waited with great respect as he took prasdam, and the bell rang with every morsel. This example has been shown to us. Those who are niskincana do not want anythingno name, no fame, or anything of the kind. They are naturally satisfied with whatever comes, and they are whole- sale dedicated to the Lord. Such devotion can be found anywhere without any show of grandeur. No worldly grandeur is necessary; just richness of the heartno knowledge, no education, no honour 96 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology of a high birth, no power, and no gorgeousness. Ka consciousness is so full, so sufficient, so absolute, that just a particle of that contains everything. All grandeur, all education, and everything is there: it is of such a nature. Service, self-dedication, aragati, surrender: that is the necessity, not valour or learning. api cet sudurcro, bhajate mm ananya-bhk sdhur eva sa mantavya, samyag vyavasito hi sa (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 9.30) You fail to understand, but he is all right. He must be thought to be a sadhu, a truly honest man, and nothing else. He may have no name or fame or good presentation, or any of the qualities that attract us; none of these are necessary. Self-contentment does not require anything. It can stand alone. It is self-sufficient. Ka consciousness is self-suf- ficient. It does not require any form of paraphernalia to establish itself: it is a self-established thing. With it there will be no need of hankering for anything, whether it be grandeur or anything else. There was a brhmaa Vaiava named Vsudeva Vipra in Kurmma-ketra just south of Pur^. He was a leper, but what type of leper? He had such compassion that when any worms would fall from the sores on his body, he would pick them up and place them back in the wounds to prevent their dying. One day he found within his mind, The Lord is coming to a place nearby and I shall have a chance to have His darana. Mahprabhu went to that district, but by the time Vsudeva arrived there, Mahprabhu had already left. Vsudeva was greatly disap- pointed and fell to the floor, crying, What misfortune! I could not have His darana, not even a glimpse of the Lord, and He has now left. I am too unqualified to meet Him. Mahprabhu went almost a mile when suddenly He felt some attraction pulling Him back. He ran back, found that leper, and embraced him. The leper body vanished and turned into a beautiful figure. Such was the devotion of Vsudeva Vipra. The devotees feel themselves to be the poorest of the poor, the humblest of the humbleatma doinya. Tnd api sun^cena, taror api sahiun: they feel themselves to be lower than a blade of grass. Surrender, Service, Dedication 97 r^la Bhaktivinod hkur has written that in general, the mea- surement of a Vaiava is according to his degree of humilityhis natural, real humility. Only a show of humility has no value. Imitation has no value anywhere. Proper humility can only come when one feels his connection with the autocratic Lord and Master. Then only can he feel himself as humble: the master is the autocrat and the servant has no position. This is a matter of realisation and not a math- ematical truth. In connection with the autocrat he has no position, and if he accepts this naturally, not artificially, he will automatically be the humblest. The servant of an autocrat has no position and no ego what- soever, and therefore he will possess natural humilityand that is his wealth. What sort of wealth is that? It is such that it can capture the autocrat. Service is of that type. A real servant has such a position in relation to the master, and vice versa: the master is also addicted to his servant. One party is surrendering, and the master is also naturally attracted to that sincere servant. The Lord is an autocrat, but He is not heartless. So the devotee who is the richest is the lowest. The meanest, the poorest, is the richest. This is Ka consciousness. Service is necessary, nothing else. We must find out how to develop that innate tendency so our body may be made of that stuff and nothing else. How is this possible? Sraddh will make us understand. Sincerely hankering we will feel, Yes. This is the highest; we want that. Sincere hankering, faith, and greed for that are necessarylaulyam arta mulyam ekalam. If you want it, you can have it. Such is that plane. It is a plane of natural transactions, but we do not want it: therefore we are culprits. Sincere wanting from the core of the heart is the only necessitynothing else. Without that we must think ourselves to be sham devotees, only showing their attire. But if real inner hankering exists, it will be wholesale genuine. Wholly want, and you can have. Laulyam arta mulyam ekalambut there must not be any adulteration in that wanting. It must be sincere laulyam. If you want, you can have. It is a most simple thing. It is most natural and most gentleman-like: If you want, you can have. No complaint can come against you from any quarter. But if you do not want, then dont have. Laulyam arta mulyam ekalam. The only price 98 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology is to really want it. Dont misuse it. Understand the value of it, want it, and you will have it. Sraddh is the real regard to have. This is the crux, and this is the highest aim, and only this can satisfy our inner thirst. The innermost thirst can be quenched only by this. By giving your small self you can gain the whole infinite. So what is needed from us? Sincere hankering. How to develop that? With the contact of the sadhu and with the help of the Scriptures we can try to increase that inner feeling. That inner demand can only be satisfied by Ka consciousness. It will satisfy our innermost demand. This is the justification of the saying sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja (Bg. 18.66). Give up all conceptions and phases of duty. Whatever call of duty comes to you, give it up. This is such a high theory. I am everything to you. Sarvva-dharmmnall conceptions of duty are to be given up, andmm ekaonly Myself exists as your single concern: this is the position of Myself and yourself by nature and constitution. Try to understand and do that, and you will find that everything undesirable, sinful, and reactionary will vanishaha tv sarvva-ppebhyo. Mokayiymi m ucano necessity for repentance will come to you. Only you will get full satisfaction. This is the greatest assurance that has ever been found so clearly and boldly expressed. Give up all phases of duty and come to Me alone, and you wont have to repent for any loss. This call is clear, bold, straight, and direct, and it is the conclusion of r^mad Bhagavad-g^t where so many phases of duty have been dealt with that almost all have been covered. Mahprabhu said, yre dekha, tre kaha ka-upadea mra jya guru ha tra ei dea (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, Madhya 7.128) If you want to do anything good to the world, talk about Ka. Try to distribute HimHe who can compensate for all other alternatives. Only try to distribute that central, absolute thing to help the people and Surrender, Service, Dedication 99 the environment, and dont have any other sort of duty. Only try to distribute this teaching of sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja to whomever you meet. If you want to do good to others, only give this highest thing. Engage yourself in this way and you will become more and more confirmed in your position, and so many others will be benefitted. No other more holy duty than this can be there. Especially in this Age of Kali we are to engage in this Ka- k^rttan: talk about Ka, distribute Him. Everyone is hard-hearted or heartless, so go out and distribute heart to everyone. Distribute every- where the heart of the heart; the real sweet heartdistribute it to everyone. This is the most holy campaign and engagement, so what more can we invest? Mahprabhu said, yre dekha, tre kaha ka-upadea: Understand that I order you to do this, therefore the dirt of any ego that you have become a Guru and are distributing Ka consciousness will not touch you. Keeping on your head that this is My order, go on with this distribution of Ka consciousness. There is no other sub- ject of discussion. Whoever you meet, talk to them only about Ka; talk about their heart of hearts. Everywhere the key is in the spirit of surrender, service, and ded- icationsevonmukhe hi jihvdau. C entenar y ear - All Glories to r Guru and Gaurga Chapter Thirteen The Harmonizing Spirit From Absolute Harmony transcribed and published by Prabhu Madhura Ka as an illustrated limited edition (Australia 1991) Disciple: The more intense dedication becomes, the more disap- pointed I become. How is this possible? r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj (r^la Guru Mahrj): You will find in Hegels philosophy, Die to Live. So you must not be a miser. You are to fully die as you are at present. You are to put your false self into the fire and allow the alloy to be elim- inated. The pure gold will then manifest with its dazzling colour. Of course the soul does not die, but those alloyed thingsthe mind, body and so many other false aspirationswill be reduced to ashes by the fire of dedication. So die in order to live in the real world. Disciple: If everyone had that spirit, Mahrj, there would be no breakups and factions as are found in so many religions and sects. r^la Guru Mahrj: But everyone is not normal. There are differ- ences. And those engaged in the abnormal cannot follow the perfect course. Everyone has some imperfection and defect. The Lords l^l are for His satisfaction, but even there we find some differences in the group of the perfect servants although they are in their normal position in His domain, Vndvan. So competition and fighting to satisfy the Lords sweet will is acceptable. Nothing can be bad in His domain. If fighting is satisfaction for the Lord then we can do that. We should not be disappointed to find dif- ferences, but we should try to find the common interest. Disciple: But if we neglect r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhus Mission of giving Prema-bhakti to the fallen souls, and instead fight only for 102 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology our own selfishness and prestige, I think there is something wrong with that. r^la Guru Mahrj: A course of treatment is given to a hospital patient but as one disease is located and treated, another disease may emerge. As that second disease is treated another disease may come out, and then another. Sin is in the aspirants, not in those who are perfect. Those who come to Ka consciousness are all patients. This is not a place of normal healthy persons, but it is a place for patients who are being purified through a course of treatment. And that process is called sddhana-bhakti. Disciple: So where are the doctors, Mahrj? r^la Guru Mahrj: There may not be expert doctors but there are so many students in the process of learning and they are practising accordingly. You cannot expect absolute knowledge everywhere. Research into nuclear fusion, whether in Russia or America, is always progressive as it is always in a middle stage, a relative position; fur- thermore it can be expected they may never find the full extent of nuclear science. But because progress is always in a relative position it does not mean the Absolute does not exist, also it does not mean that the campaign should be given up. No! Everything may be defective but still we are to continue. Although all is not perfect, still we are to progress with our daily food and activities as we have to maintain ourselves and aspire for the maximum good. We have to make the best of a bad bargain with whatever is available to us. The absolute position is not easily attained. Everyone of us has to pass through relative positions towards the Absolute. There is elimination and acceptance everywherethis is the meaning of progress, and we cannot avoid it. But elimination should not be done inconsiderately. At the same time our object will always be the higher aim. sarvva-dharmmn parityajya, mm eka araa vraja aha tv sarvva-ppebhyo, mokayiymi m uca (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 18.66) The Harmonizing Spirit 103 Lord Ka says, Totally abandoning all kinds of religion, surrender exclusively unto Me. I will liberate you from all kinds of sins, so do not despair. In every subject there is progress and we are not to blame others for whatever comes to us; rather the whole burden of this trouble is ours. No one else is to be blamed. Everywhere there is the hand of the Absolute. When there is a government a hooligan may be detained but if there is no order or government then criminals can run amok. There is the Absolute government and we cannot escape that law. According to our karmma we do things to others and receive the reactions: it is controlled, it is not anarchy. So we are to suffer and enjoy the result of our own karmmathe fruit of our own actionthat is the law. When we think, I am responsible for all my lawlessness, there will be a favourable time ahead and we shall be released. When a criminal sees that the punishment being dealt him is justified, with atonement he may be released and he may not commit any nuisance afterwards. Similarly, when we realize we are suffering from our own reactions, then we will come to the door of real salvation. In order to illustrate that our own karmma has created our present environment we can adapt the saying, A bad workman quarrels with his tools, to: A bad workman quarrels with his stools. We have earned such an atmosphere by our previous karmmaour previous actionsand no one else is to be blamed. This is the advice of r^mad- Bhgavatam and when, in fact, we come to realize this truth then our day of liberation will be near. Do you follow? Disciple: Yes, I follow clearly. r^la Guru Mahrj: So now you can make no further question? Where do you find your prospect? Disciple: I am simply disappointed with politics and the differences between religious institutions. r^la Guru Mahrj: Previously when Einstein came and spoke out against Newton, he was insulted, but later the community recognized, Oh, Einstein is above Newton. So dont forget you are in the infinite. There are many different parties and they may have many different convictions according to their 104 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology capacity to understand the truth. They are of variagated nature and therefore there cannot but be variety and difference, and for some that may result in internal or external quarrel. First the followers of Newton took their stand against Einstein, but gradually they found that what Einstein was saying was true and moreover he was giving a higher conception than Newton. It was not the third but the fourth dimension that was given by Einstein. So the possibility of the future must be calculated within the pre- sent, otherwise any estimation is not proper. Things are always changing. The factor of change must be calculated within the present otherwise it is not complete. In the spiritual arena Bhagavn r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu came and manifest the fifth dimension which was above and beyond all previous conceptions but still accommodating them all. Prior to that the fourth dimensionVaikuhawas given by Rmnuja; the third dimension was given by akarcryya and the second dimension was given by Buddha. Buddha recognized the existence of the subtle body, and concluded that with the dissolution of that subtle body nothing remains. Then akarcryya said, The subtle body is only a reflection of a fur- ther thing, Brahman, which is itself true and eternal; and this world is also a reflection of that. With the dissolution of that reflection, the indi- vidual soul dissolves forever and nothing but Brahman remains. There are in fact so very many differences between the propounders of the main conceptions of reality and also to a certain extent there are differences amongst their disciples. akarcryya and Buddha both preferred that the ultimate goal be non-differentiated, unknown and unknowable; and they finished there. Do you wish to go there? Elimination of all diversity may be a very peaceful positiona deep slumberand that is their goal. There are many followers of that creed, but their sacrifice is of a lesser degree than those who dedicate themselves to the higher plane. Rmnuja said, But there is another world on the opposite side! This material world is the world of exploitation, and beyond that is The Harmonizing Spirit 105 liberationBrahma-nirvvabut on the other side of that is the positive plane which is purely subjective and is full of dedication: that is the fourth dimension, Vaikuha, the land of Viu. Then r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu gave the additional conception, explaining, Calculative dedication in Vaikuha is one thing but spontaneous dedication to Ka in Goloka is another; and the highest ideal is not spontaneous dedication to power and majesty, but to beauty. And this has been clearly proved. akarcryya said, All is one, there is no variety. But Mahprabhu pointed out, If there is no variety, how can the question of unity arise? If there is variety then there must be the question of unity. So in this world we are to make proper adjustment. We want higher sacrifice, living dedication and tolerance for the Central Truth. That Truth we see as personal and with His own will and we must admit that, if we want to have entrance into that world. Dedication to Ka is nectar and exploitation of this material energy is poison, and what the followers of akara and Buddha want is the middle position where everything is harmonized into deaththe plane of cessation of difference. That is Brahma-nirvva, the final peace devoid of trouble where all are buried in eternal slumber. If you prefer, then you can go there. But what you find in this world is the reflection of the original whole, perverted into exploitation. On the other side is dedication. In the group of servitors practising pure ded- ication, even their quarrel becomes beautiful. Whatever is found here is found there totally. Try to understand this general principle. A poison may be utilized as medicine when applied properly. The myvd^s (impersonalists) cannot find any harmony in difference but they can only find harmony in the conception of non-differenti- ated Brahman consciousness. They cannot keep up the beautiful har- mony in variety held by the Vaiavas; rather they consider that every- thing must be merged into one to solve the problems of the world. Other than that they have no solution but only disturbance. With the qualifications of humility, patience, forbearance, and no tendency to seek self-glory but rather to glorify others and honour 106 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology their respectable existence, we can live happily with our neighbours and the whole environment. Mahprabhu has given this solution to us and we are to equip ourselves in this way. Why should you think your neighbour to be undesirable? You are not to complain against the environment but you are to control your- self and come to the proper understanding. With proper adjustment you will find everything to be harmonious: the desired land of your life. At home you shall find everything. Do you know of Judas in the Christian teachings? Disciple: Yes, he betrayed Jesus. r^la r^dhar Mahrj: When Jesus was praying in the garden before his crucifixion, Judas approached him with the scribes and priests in order to betray him, by identifying that Messiah with a kiss. Suddenly Jesus cast his glance towards Judas in such an impressive wayhe penetrated Judas. Judas thought to himself, I am caught, I shall be responsible for Jesus Christs demise, but still Jesuss vision to me was something like: I am exploiting you Judas. It is not that you are exploiting me, rather I am utilising you as a traitor to show the great- ness of my life to the future world. Jesus had already said (at his last supper), Amongst these twelve disciples one will betray me. He knew. Judas was there then and Jesus had cast his glance towards Judas. Then later, when Judas came with the soldiers and scribes to the garden of Gethsemene to capture him, Jesus once again cast his glance towards Judas and was thinking, You think you are exploiting me for some money but I am exploiting you for eternity. You have to stand out as a sinful person against me, I knew you were a traitor, but I did not disclose you. I still took you within my group of followers knowing full well that I am exploiting you. The look of Jesus was like that. Judas was crazed. He threw away the sack of silver. He ran to the authorities and said, I have committed the worst sin, I cannot tolerate it! Judass energy was drunk, his spirit was drawn. Just like in jujitsu, when someone attacks the opposition with great force, if the opposi- The Harmonizing Spirit 107 tion suddenly withdraws, it causes the attacking person to fall on his faceJudas found himself in that sort of position. Jesus was exchanging love for betrayal. It was the sort of love that disarmed and sent Judas mad, I treated him so wickedly, yet his look is not one of vindictiveness but of infinite gratitude. That sort of look Jesus cast upon me. In perfect vision, in the full-fledged consideration, every atom is helping the Pastimes of Ka. Whether it is direct or indirectand although it seems to be indirect at present, a deeper vision will reveal that it is coming towards direct service. Jagi and Mdhi came at first to physically beat Nitynanda Prabhu. Yet later they became submissive. They ended up singing the Holy Names of Nitynanda and Gaurga, showing an example to the public. They showed, We, the worst rogues, are converted into honest men by the mercy of our benevolent Lord. They enhanced the beauty of the conduct of the Lord by sacrifice. To play the nega- tive role, great sacrifice is required. They gave away their own fame to make the Lord glorious forever. The depth of our vision will detect these things. We will see so much direct service even from the indirect section. My and Satan are also rendering service to God. Without darkness, light cannot be perceived. To play the part of darkness, to show the greatness of light, sacrifice is required. Satan is illuminating Gods greatness. He is apparently negative but Satans contribution makes God so magnanimous. If Satan did not exist then how could we under- stand the goodness and greatness of God? Everywhere there is the Grace of God. Mahdev, Lord iva, sometimes repents and mourns, Oh Lord, what can I do? You are Absolute and You have engaged me to accept the position of leader of the opposition party. I am going against You because I am giving encouragement to the demons. This most unfor- tunate post has been given to me by You, but since Your order is unchallengeable then what to do?! I am following Your order but my heart is not satisfied my Lord! So, iva is a devotee but sometimes he gives opposition to Ka or Viu. He encourages the demoniac 108 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology powers against the Lord. In an indirect way He fights against Ka with his followers the bhtas (ghosts and demons). Ignorance is not accidental, it is earned by our previous action man is the architect of his own fortune. The bad weather I am meeting with at present has been earned by myself. Dont complain against the environment. Utilise it as best you can and try to see the Grace of the Absolute therein. The anomaly I am facing at this present time is the product of my own action, no one else is to blame. Not only is that true; but from another viewpoint it can also be seen that the Grace of the Lord is always present everywhereeager to help mecoming in the guise of an apparently unfavourable envi- ronment according to the vision of my present experience. That is the necessary medicine for my disease, the medicine to cure my mad- ness. It is like medicine dispensed by the Lord. He is everywhere with His sympathetic hand extended to us in the circumstances of most intense danger. To have this attitude is to have the keythe solution that solves our unfavourable circumstances, our unfavourable position. The Lord is not vindictive, He does not want to punish us. Punishment has come only to teach us. The punishment is there but coming from the affectionate hand to teach us, to improve us, to help us. We have to see all dangers like that. So set yourself rightnot othersand real peace you will find. And never try to enjoy the result of your actions. This is the key to a suc- cessful life, and happiness will flow from that. You will find the Infinite is your Friend. Everything is a part and parcel of the Original, therefore God is manifested in everything. And it is not that we can sacrifice or negate everything and only God remains, otherwise why are we here? Our individuality and existence is real. So both sides must have some recognition. Harmony between them is truth proper. This is the con- ception of Mahprabhu. There is polarity and also there is unity and harmony, and that is all-important. Dislocation is unhealthy. Proper adjustment is necessary. My means dislocation. Provincial, local The Harmonizing Spirit 109 interests are clashing with each other as well as with the Absolute. But proper adjustment comes through achieving understanding of the Absolute. Such understanding brings true harmony. All these things should be discussed and understood. Disciple: How can we practically understand and apply the principle of harmony? r^la Guru Mahrj: In your conception what does harmony mean? Disciple: I understand that, strictly speaking, harmony is a musical term referring to different musical tones which are in balance with each other. r^la Guru Mahrj: In a choir or an orchestra many instruments are being played or many singers are singing so the variety will be a credit to the harmony. Different types of instruments are being played but there must be harmony there, and the highest harmony depends upon how the many different instruments are being played in tune. Hundreds of different instruments are playing, preparing the music yet they must all be attuned to the conductor. So sacrifice, dedica- tion in its highest degree, will be of such a nature that it can accom- modate and tolerate all difference. Therefore by toleration, harmony will increase. The highest type of harmony can tolerate any type of opposition. It is all-accommodating. In this way, the highest concep- tion of dedication means there is the accommodation of an infinitely numbered variety within it; and its sweetness will increase more and more. So there are different instruments making different tunes from dif- ferent strata of sound but they are all tuned to one. Plurality is con- nected to one centre and is giving some sweet, soothing feeling of sentiment. Similarly we can see that the earth and all the planets are each moving in their individual ways but they are connected to another force. The moon is moving around the earth, and there are so many planets moving in relation to other planets which in turn are moving in their own way, but all are moving around the sun. Variety meets unity in different planes of movement. That is harmony. This applies everywhere, including the plane of colour and the plane of sound. 110 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Many branches meet together in the trunk of a tree; the trunk harmo- nizes the many leaves. Disciple: In the Absolute sense does discord bring harmony? r^la Guru Mahrj: In the highest Absolute there is room to accom- modate everything, otherwise it cannot be Absolute. If we consider something to be absolute but can still find something to be outside of that, then it cannot be Absolute. The Absolute accommodates every- thing. In Him the enemy is not an enemy! The Centre is everywhere, there is no circumference. In that plane only God can be traced every- where and He cannot be our enemy. C entenar y ear - Chapter Forteen Harmony Beautys Necessity From Absolute Harmony transcribed and published by Prabhu Madhura Ka as an illustrated limited edition (Australia 1991) The theistic school says, Absolute means Absolute Good. It is not zero, rather everything is fully represented there. The whole is so great that it can accommodate all. But akarcryya sacrificed plurality and accepted only oneness, saying, Enemies and friends all become nothing. They become jumbled together. Such a thing is possible only in the zero-conception. But Chaitanya Mahprabhu explained, What akarcryya gave is not proper acceptance of the revealed truth, but both variety and oneness must be recognized. In the Upaniads it is said, There is no variegatedness. And akarcryya says, There is no plurality but only oneness: Brahman. But Mahprabhu says, No! Variety also exists, otherwise there would be no necessity of saying anything whatsoever, as all would unani- mously agree. Rather, there is One who is the Master and all else are subordinate; and they are active in a systemthe controlled and the controller. He explained, If you say that variety does not exist then what is the necessity of so much discussion? To whom have you come to preach? And if there is no variety then what is the necessity of preaching to those who are already one with you? Illusion also has its existence otherwise why have you come to try to remove illusion? If mymisunderstanding and misconceptiondoes not exist then why are you preaching? It is a reality that there is always the possibility of misconception. Therefore there is always the necessity of a Guru to teach the truth. 112 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology There is not only the Absolute conception but also the relative, provincial conception, and they both co-exist. This is called cid- vilsa: it is not the negation of a particular thing, but the adjustment of everything with the Whole, the Absolute, the Centre. Variety and oneness both exist simultaneously and this is called acintya bhedb- heda-tattva, and this is the all-accommodating conclusion of r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu. Still akarcryya accepts only one part; his conception is limited and not all-accommodating. The only origin of fear is lack of harmony. Fear is born through dis- appointment resulting from lack of harmony. If that does not exist then there is no place for fear. Undesirability is represented in Sanskrit as apprehension or fear and is regarded as something secondary to the Absolute. But how does it reach, and become transformed into, perfection? If we can introduce many interests into one common interest then there is har- monyno fearand all is perfect. At present we are suffering from the mania of separate interest. Only because we have deviated from our common Master, our common Guardian, we have come to suffer the disease of apprehension. If one Master is common to all, then no apprehension can arise. We will feel true unity amongst ourselves. If we fall on the ground, with the help of that same ground we can again stand. So, forgetfulness of our Guardian is the cause of the all-disastrous situations in which we find ourselves. The only way to get out of that disaster is to be reinstated in the idea of common guardianship, and that is to be effected by the true sdhus who have not deviated from God consciousness. With their help we have to appeal to the all-con- trolling agency. Then we can again be reinstated in that echelon where we have our Master under whose holy feet we are to take shelter. If we can accept this, harmony will again be installed in our lives. So we are always to be conscious of our Guardian, the highest harmonizer and that is true God consciousness. Kas two mothers, Yaod and Devak^, do not have an open relationship with each other. Kas foster mother, Yaod, is always HarmonyBeautys Necessity 113 afraid that Devak^ and her husband, Vasudeva, may come to claim Ka as their child. How can it be that this happens? Similarly the members of Rdhr^s camp consider Chandrval^s camp to be an anti-party to the main group of servitors. But the indirect section is always a necessary part of the Lords Pastimes. Chandrval^ has more intellect, whereas Rdhr^ has more sentiment. Similarly in all rasas (devotional mellows) there is harmony and also discord. Some opposition enhances the play of dedication. In sakhya-rasa (the mood of serving the Lord as a friend) when Ka began to play with His friends, the cowherd boys, there were two parties: one side with Ka and the other with His brother, Balarma. The cowherd boys were divided into two sections to rep- resent opposite sides, and then they began to playfully fight. The pun- ishment for whichever party would be defeated was that each was to carry a boy from the winning party on their shoulders. In this way a service-punishment was given. Balarma is very strong while on the opposing party r^dm is also very strong. In fact r^dma came into Kas party because Ka is not as strong as Balarma. In this way their playing began. When the two parties fought, Balarma generally wouldnt accept that He was defeated, rather His nature was that He would become enraged. Sometimes a demon would enter one of the parties by taking the form of a cowherd boy. In this manner Pralambsura and Vyomsura mixed with the play of the cowherd boys seeking an opportunity to take a boy on their shoulders and abduct him. One day Pralambsura car- ried Balarma into the depths of the jungle. But when Balarma came to understand that He was being carried by a demon impostor He struck him with a great blow to the head. In this way the higher con- ception of truth runs in order to not only remove all difficulties personified as demonsbut to positively fill up the whole heart with sweet nectar. And the sweetest nectar is personified in Ka. On another occasion Ka was considering the case of another miscreant, iupla, and how he could be removed. For this purpose He convened a meeting between Himself, Balarma, and Uddhava, but Balarma opposed everything Ka said. Whenever Ka wanted a 114 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology policy to be adopted, Balarma would object, What is this policy? Just leave it to Me, I shall kill him outright! What need is there of all these politics?I dont understand. All the while Uddhava, who by nature is not partial to violence, tried to pacify Balarma. The example of enhancement of the beauty of the Lords Pastimes by discord and opposition is represented very cleverly in this story, in an ornamental way. Mualadhara, a name of Balarma meaning the wielder of the club-like weapon, gives us a hint that He doesnt delight in the finer mental level of intellect and politics. He likes to solve everything with the strike of His club. So in Balarma we find less intelligence, but stronger force. Still the greatest, most suble opposing forces can only be harmonized by Ka. Harmony means to control opposite forces. Lord Rmachandra expressed, There is no greater friend than a brother to be found anywhere, while His own brother, Lakmaa, instead stressed the opposite angle of vision: The brother is the worst type of enemy because when he emerges from the mothers womb the elder brother can no longer suck her breast. Indeed the elder brother is not only deprived of his mothers milk but he is also dis- possessed of his mothers lap, as the new brother captures that also. So opposite conceptions have to be accommodated. Disciple: We are all trying to be devotees but sometimes we see that there is some differentiation made between the Western and Indian devotees. r^la Guru Mahrj: You have so many differences such as your hair, eyes, etc.! Disciple: These are material differences. r^la Guru Mahrj: But these are all drawn from the spiritual, they cannot demand any originality of their own. There are so many things to be understood. Even it is found that in the presence of Ka at Pukarat^rtha the whole of the Yadu dynas- ties including such a host of great personalities were annihilated before His very eyes. But these dynasties fought in order to reveal the deeper HarmonyBeautys Necessity 115 realities of the plane of the soul. Whatever He wills is truth proper. Can you understand this? Ka was a sightseer!He simply watched. How can you adjust to that? Can you understand that fighting is life? All the Pavas including Arjjuna were submissive to King Yudhihira, but still they sometimes revolted against him. Peace such as in the deep slumber of Brahma-nirvva is wanting in vitality; it is not true lasting peace. And the Absolute Truth is not impersonal but a Person. Disciple: My desire is to see Chaitanya Mahprabhus unity, to see full harmony. r^la Guru Mahrj: Harmony presupposes independent thinking, but in consonance with the common plane. When a mother cooks food, one child may say, This is bitter, another may say, This is salty and another, This is sour. So where there are many varieties there must be the question of life. Variety shows that life is present. In diversity there is polarity within unity, otherwise simply unity means jumbling everything togethera dead unity. Viu does not represent just one feature but He represents infinite features which accommodate infinite possibilities. Ka is akhila rasmta-mrtti (the emporium of all nectarean rasas). Different groups of His servitors have so many diverse elements. Even Rdhr^ and Chandrval^ compete with each other. They each head separate camps which fight in competition to satisfy Him. We have to under- stand how all this is possible. Mildly, with humility, we have to try to follow. In the parliament there is an opposition party, but it is there to enhance the work of the main party. In this way the direct and the indirect combine in order to make the government complete, and if that principle is applied everywhere, it is not difficult to understand the nature of difference. We are not to try to create another world, but we are to understand what already exists. Why is it so? What is the under- lying meaning behind it? What are the differences between Ka and Balarma? Balarma sometimes sides with Duryyodhana and 116 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Ka sides with the Pavas, yet Ka and Balarma are almost one and the same. So how are we to understand that? What is your answer? Do you think it is all bogus?! Disciple: I can simply say I came to the Gau^ya Mah for Chaitanya Mahprabhus gift of Love. r^la Guru Mahrj: Yes, this is true. And love means that there is classification amongst brothers. Rpa Goswm^ gave the explanation aher iva gati prema svabhva-kuil bhavet (r^ Chaitanya-charitmta, Madhya 8.110) Just as a serpent moves in a crooked way, similarly is the nature of Loves progress. The nature of affection is not straightforward because it has to accommodate everything in it. Everything possible in existence is accommodated in love. Love means sacrifice to such a high degree that it can embrace everything. The movement of love is generally crooked and, for the satisfaction of Ka, it has been designed in this way by the Lords Divine Power, Yogamy, in order to prevent any staleness or sterility from entering the Pastimes. So try to adjust to this. Dont be eager to create another world. To do away with opposition, greater harmony is necessary. And in the higher type of harmony, opposition even enhances the beauty of that harmony and helps it. When harmony is successful then it is found to be the necessity of beauty. Ka represents beauty, and His harmonizing capacity supersedes everything. There is nothing He cannot harmonize, and all enemies become friends in that harmony. In so many ways this is to be accommodated. The Lord is the centre of highest harmony, He is sweetness, He is our Master, and He is the Divine Love of us all. Chandrval^ is in opposition to r^mat^ Rdhr^ yet by Yogamy their competition produces more satisfaction for Ka. Everything is for Him. Through akhila-rasmta-mrtti all possible types of ecstasy are harmonized, nothing is neglected. Justification of all existence is found there. That diversity and unity is all to satisfy His purpose. Rdhr^ Herself said, The other Gop^s do not know it, but I have no objection if they come forward, for My only concern is for Kas HarmonyBeautys Necessity 117 satisfaction. My concentration is always there, but the standard of their service isnt so exclusive as to give full satisfaction to Him prop- erly. That is my objection. They rush forward to serve Ka but they do not know how to fully satisfy Him, otherwise I would allow them to. In this way Rdhr^s statement justified Her feeling. This statement of Rdhr^, where She does not consider Her devotion to be commonplace in the company of those exclusive servitors com- peting for Kas affectionthat is Her special beauty. Her degree and intensity of endeavour to satisfy Ka is above all others. Ka represents the whole play, He is the Centre and the source of everyones love. But certain servitors like Lalit and Vikh are directly serving Rdhr^; while there are also those in Chandrval^s camp who are serving her in opposition to Rdhr^. That anti-party group is essential, just as the opposition party is nec- essary in a democratic parliament. What is the purpose of this world? That is known only to Him. The first verse of r^mad-Bhgavatam states that He alone is fully aware of the purpose of His activity. He is the Absolute Autocrat, He doesnt have to explain Himself to anyone. Everything is for Him. Also, in some way He is for us. aha bhakta-pardh^no, hy asvatantra iva dvija sdhubhir grasta-hdayo, bhaktair bhakta-jana-priya (r^mad-Bhgavatam 9.4.63) I do not know anyone but My devotees. All the saints are my sweethearts, and I am also their sweetheart. They do not know anyone but Me and I also do not care to know anyone but them. He is for the devotees and the devotees are for Him. That is the Substance and the potency, the Enjoyer and the enjoyed, the Positive and the negative, the Served and the servitorboth combine to make the Whole: the Subject and the object. No subject can exist without an object. Subject means the thinking thinker; and there must be something to be thought otherwise the sub- ject cannot exist. There must be some thinker and then recognition of a particular thing. 118 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Disciple: Rdhr^ sends Her different associates to canvas on Her behalf. Does Chandrval^ also have her associates canvassing for her? r^la Guru Mahrj: Yes, there is a clash between Rdhr^s fol- lowers like Lalit and Vikh and the followers of Chandrval^ such as Saiby and Padm. r^la Bhaktivinod hkur has written, As the attendant of Rdhr^s camp, I do not like to see that area in Vndvan where the camp of Chandrval^ is, because Padms interest is always to take Ka from Rdhr^s special place to Chandrval^s camp and if Ka goes there then our place will become dark. But still opposition is necessary in the development of different levels of service just as hunger or fasting is necessary for relishing food. It is all designed only to intensify the standard of service. And what degree of attraction and service to Rdhr^ do we find in Lalitdev^? If a drop of perspiration is found on the feet of Rdh or Govinda she prays for one hundred thousand bodies to busily remove that perspiration. This sort of intense devotion is the unit of measurement to gauge love for ones beloved. This is the inner feeling. Waves of such nature come from within one who comes in connec- tion with that Vndvan proper. In Goloka Vndvan, the abode of r^ Ka, there are so many par- ties. There the Pastimes appear to be similar to the competition that goes on here in this world, but the difference is all in the degree of sac- rifice the devotee has for their Lord. The life of a devotee is a life of endless sacrifice. The Gop^s of Vndvan are perfectly self-forgetful of their own interest and well-being; they are cent-percent devoted not only in the present but also in the eternal future. There they live in the land of mercy, beauty, charm and affection; the plane of Absolute surrender. And that is the highest plane of our life. Nothing less than wholesale surrender is required there. As Ka states, If you give yourself wholesale to Me then I will give Myself wholesale to you. r^la Rpa Goswm^ has given us an example of the gradation of service: When Ka is at the summit of Govarddhan Hill and He sees Balarm and His sakhya friends playing in the pasturing ground below, He also sees Yaod with all her helpers busily preparing His HarmonyBeautys Necessity 119 meal. All the dsya servitors are seen to be engaged in some arrange- ment under the direction of Yaod. Chandrval^, with her group, is approaching a particular meeting place; while His beloved r^mat^ Rdhr^ is coming with Her friends to an appointed place to be united with Ka. All the different groups represented together around Govarddhan are assembling therenta, dsya, sakhya, vtsalya, and mdhuraall are in His sight. He is overseeing everything. So very many affectionate servitors are all vying for His attention but His eyes are always drawn to r^mat^ Rdhr^ and Her group. Even Lakm^dev^the Goddess of Fortune and wife of Lord Viuwanted to participate in the Rsa-l^l of those simple cowherd girls of Vndvan, the Gop^s, but She could not enter, for that market that place of the Rsa-l^l Pastimeis so very exclusive. Although she has all the wealth and grandeur of Lord r^ Viu in Vaikuha, still, unsatisfied, She is running to join in that great dance in which Ka is at the centre. No capitalist can enter that market and open a shop there for He has the full monopoly. There is only one commodity in the market and that commodity is Ka consciousness. The earth itself feels the charming union with Ka by the divine touch of His Feet. The birds, insects, His friendseverything in the environmentsing in His sweet play. Only unconditional exclusive Divine Love can enter there. So much so, the attraction of Ka has captured the hearts of everyone there wholesale. Gods grace is of such charming, intense nature that there is no way out but to serve the sweetnessnot by fear, nor by hope, nor by the sense of duty, but all are helplessly attracted to sweet Ka. Living harmony reigns there in its most natural and intense form. The servants of that quarter feel they cannot live without that service. That is their food. r^mat^ Rdhr^ prays, You have captured My heart fully. Every atom of My body wants only You, but the circumstances are so cruel that we are parted. So I will jump into that deep well, taking My life. I pray You will come and take My position and I will take Yours, Oh Ka, Oh r^ Nandanandan. Then You will realise what hopelessness I am going through and will understand My trouble. 120 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology In that self-same mood r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu said, My friends save Me by showing Me Ka, otherwise I can not maintain My existence! What I once saw, touching My heart like lightning then withdrawing, show Me once again for I cannot tolerate the sep- aration. How many times can one die in a second to earn that for- tune, to get a moments perception of Ka? I am ready to die mil- lions of times. My heart bursts without having a second view of that wonderful thing! I had a little experience previously, but beauty and sweetness can be so cruel! If I do not get that vision I shall die. C entenar y ear - Chapter Fifteen Ambition of Life By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj We dont like to live in this material world that is so nasty. We are trying to realise how to live in the land of the soul. We are soul and we should live there. yad gatv na nivartante , tad dhma parama mama (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 15.6) (Ka said to Arjjuna: That is My all-illuminating holy abode from which the surrendered souls never return once having reached there.) and: brahma-bhuvanl lok, punar vartino rjjuna mm upetya tu kaunteya, punar janma na vidyate (r^mad Bhagavad-g^t 8.16) (O Arjjuna, beginning from Brahmaloka, the highest planet in the uni- verse, downwards, certainly the residents of all planets are naturally subjected to repeated birth and death. But, O Kaunteya, upon reaching Me, there is no rebirth.) It is coming into being, then again vanishing. It is being created, then destroyed. Creation and destruction is the nature of this plane of life, and we must leave this dress and find our soul person and live in the plane of soul beyond the jurisdiction of this world. This is achieved by the use of our intelligence and mainly by the causeless mercy of the Vaiava: sukti. Sukti when accumulated creates raddh for the unseen cause. What is seen becomes neglected, and appreciation grows for what is unseen. The unseen is more reliable. The unseen means that which is not under material experience, but it is more reliable than this place of concrete life which is sure to go 122 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology and not only mine, but everyones. So this bogus plane should not be trusted any longer. We must seek somewhere else. If we enter within our heart we shall find that, yes, there is mind, there is intel- ligence, there is soul, Super Soul and so on in the subtle world. Whereas this seen world is proven to be of change and destruction. Our ambition of life is the higher plane of Ka. We want to live in a country where the general insult and disregard is absent. We can live an honourable life there. Whereas this plane is sure to go, and we see it every day and at every moment. Yudhihir Mahrj said, What is more wonderful than this? Every day we see every- thing going to the jaws of death, but we are not preparing ourselves for that. Instead our tendency is that as much time as possible we shall stay here. The whole of our energy we are using almost for nothing. We are using our energy for impossibility. I shall have to leave, and all of us we shall have to leave this place, still we want to give so much atten- tion to building houses and this and that. For this reason we are making Temples, etc., so that in this way so many persons energy will be used for the purpose of the Lord and they will be saved. Energy should be used for Him, and that is the way in which we can go to His land. All aspects of our life should be utilised for His service and that is the royal road to go swiftly to His domain. The whole energy should be used for His purpose. Everything is for Him. We must realise this truth. Nothing is for us, and I am also for Him. The Infinite, the Absolute is such in His nature and His very existence, that everything is for Him. At present we are separatists thinking, This is mine, I may be monarch of all I survey. But this is the anti-current that has taken us far away from Him, thus causing us to become prey to death and disease. C entenar y ear - Chapter Sixteen Place of Solution r^ Nabadw^p Dhm By r^la Bhakti Rakak r^dhar Dev-Goswm^ Mahrj Nabadw^p is considered by the high order devotees to be the highest place of theism of Absolute Love. r^ Rdhik and Govinda combined Themselves together, and they are avowed to give their dearest thing to the public. As Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu They came here with this idea. Both parties have the best wealth, and They have come to dis- tribute that for the benefit of the public: Come this way, you will get the highest thing that we taste ourselves. The same dish you can have. O people, you can have a taste of the same dish as we relish. It is the play of the highest order. Prem. Love. Raso vai sa: the Upaniads say that sweetnessrasa, nandam, sundaramis really controlling the whole creation. Everyone wants rasa, none can say otherwise. From the atheists to the highest order of theist, everyone wants rasa. If we can develop the eye to see, then every atom of Gaura-Dhm will charm us to the utmost. Only the eye is necessary. By charm every atom is sufficient to engage us fully and accommodate us whole- sale. One particle of dust can give us fullest engagement because all is infinite and of the most generous type here. All the dust is of the most generous type and promising for Ka. Every particle of dust promises to give us Rdh-Ka, so what more do we need? They all promise, and this is the outcome of Gaura- Dhm. No other nature can be traced in them. They are all helping to take us to our highest attainment. Really seeing, it is their nature. 124 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology Externally according to our anartha it may produce so many tests and examinations, but with the least test and least trouble, they are ready to give our highest goal: the connection of Mahprabhu, and the eye to see who Mahprabhu is. The angle of vision is the most impor- tant thing, the angle of vision to look upon the environment. In Vndvan there are apparently so many demons such as Aghsura, Baksura, Dhenuka, Vyoma, Aria, Ke^ and Kasa, but they are on the surface, whereas Ka is everywhere. There is the superficial vision and the real vision. Similarly there is the internal self, and the necessity of that internal selfsouls necessityavoiding the superfluous, the surface. The surface is for our physical senses, and for the mind there is also a mental layer of different types of religionists including so many other religions. But in the layer of soul, when we come to appreciate assistance from others, then we will come to appreciate how beautiful and how magnanimous is the connection of Gaurga here in Nabadw^p. How it can enrich our soul! Our souls necessity. C entenar y ear - All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga r( Guru-Praasti% In Glorication of r( Gurudev by O^ Vi!@upd r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj My Divine Lord and Master, the Abode of all Transcendental Qualities, came down into this world at Village Hpniy in the Holy Land of r( Gaura-Ma@#al. [1] Nyyaratna-Vidyp($h was a famous place of learning, situated near the banks of the Holy River Ganges that puries the universe. [2] There lived the jewel of Brhma@as, r( Upendra Chandra Vidyratna, peaceful and magnanimous. [3] Like the radiant sun of the Bha$$achryya family line, he was superbly learned; he was ever absorbed in the Divine Service of the Supreme Lord and His Consort, r( r( Lak!m(-Nrya@a. [4] His devoted wife was the gracious r(mat( Gaur( Dev(the great saintly lady, the mother of the universe. And she was the mother of my Lord. [5] 1817 aka era, month of vin by the sun, on Saturday the 26th, was his Holy Day of Advent. [6] At the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, and the Moon and Jupiter, with many stars in their highest position, my Lord chose the day of r( V(rachandra Prabhu in the shelter of the same sign of the zodiac that the Supreme Lord r( Rmchandra appeared in. [7] At the auspicious moment of the eighth star P)!y on the ninth day of the month Krttik, mother Earth was blessed as she kissed the lotus feet of my Lord. [8] A great joyous vibration lled the house of chryya Vidyratna as the pious ladies triumphantly blew the conch-shell and rang the bell. [9] All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga r( Guru-Praasti% In Glorication of r( Gurudev by O^ Vi!@upd r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj r^ gauramaala-mjhe hpniy grma ya hi avat^ra mora prabhu gua dhma [1] patita pvan^ gag t^ra sannihita nyyaratna-viyp^ha bhuvana-vidita [2] ta hi vaise vipravara pranta udra r^ upendra chandra viyratna nma y ra [3] bhachryya-kula-ravi parama vidvna nirantara sev para lakm^-nryaa [4] t ra patn^ gaur^ dev^ parama pvan^ mah sdhv^ jaganmt prabhura janan^ [5] hraa satera ake saurvina msa anivra, chhvvia divasa paraka [6] budhditya-j^va yoge tuga graha gae rmachandra-ryraye v^rachandra-dine [7] ubhakar^ puy ake krttik^ navam^ dhara^ haila dhanya prabhupada chumi [8] uhila nanda-rola chryya-bhavane akha-gha jayadhvan^ deya nr^gae [9] jnulamvita bhuja puraa sundara dev^ ake obhe divya jyoti manohara [10] heriy putrera rpa mugdha pitmt mugdha haila putra rpe yata pati vrat [11] rmachandra-janma kaa smari vipravara rkhil putrera nma rmendra-sundara [12] aprvva vlaka-obh vypila bhuvane anindya rmendra chandra be dine dine [13] dekhite dekhite prabhu labhil yauvana parama samddha kari vidy uprjjana [14] divya suvimala tanu mahjyotirmmaya nirakhi sakala loka sdhvasa mnaya [15] vairgya bhvita bhakti-pra kalevara aivla-pihita yena mah-sarovara [16] mahjn^ uka prya virakta pradhna heri mt pit mane chinte anukaa [17] sannys^ haive putra n rahibe ghare mah-yog^ mah-tyg^ lakaa ar^re [18] antare nanda, vhye ukha paraka katodine kail vipra r^ vaikuha vsa [19] krame krame prabhu mora pan praki svechchhya vandhana khai hail sannys^ [20] gha tygi mypura karil vijaya gaurga-janma bhumi chidnanda maya [21] r^ bhaktisiddhnta saraswat^ prabhu-sthne lail sannysa d^na uddhra krae [22] 126 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology His Form was beautiful radiant golden. His long arms reached to his knees, the symptom of the great soul. As he curled up in the lap of his gracious mother, a charming Divine Radiance came forth. [10] Seeing their sons beauty, mother and father, and all the chaste wives present were entranced. [11] That best of Brhma@as remembered the auspicious moment of the Appearance of Lord Rmchandra, and so it was that he named his beloved, beautiful son r( Rmendra. [12] The marvellous beauty of the child pervaded the universe. And it was day by day that the spotless moon r( Rmendra grew and grew. [13] All could see as he gracefully bloomed in youth, the supreme treasure of wisdom was his natural acquisition. [14] Seeing his greatly effulgent Divine Perfect Form, all were moved to offer him all respects with reverence. [15] His body, like a great lake covered by moss, was lled with Devotion and absorbed in indifference for the world. [16] Seeing the extreme detachment in his nature just like the great savant ukadev, his mother and father began to feel a constant anxiety. [17] Our son will be a sannys(, he wont stay at home. All the symp- toms of a Paramha^sa completely indifferent to the world are present in his body. [18] Feeling ecstasy within yet showing sorrow outwardly, the Brhma@a r( Upendra Chandra left the world for the Holy Abode Vaiku@$ha. [19] Gradually, my Lord revealed himself to the world, and by his sweet will breaking all ties with the world, he became a Sannys(. [20] Leaving home forever he made his auspicious arrival at Mypur, the Divine Ecstatic Land of r( Gaur&gas Advent. [21] Just for delivering the poor souls of this world, he accepted Sannys from Prabhupd r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm(. [22] r Guru Praasti 129 r^ bhakti rakaka sak^rttana-mrtti dhara sei hetu guru nma rkhil r^dhara [23] patita pvana rpe tridaira vee nma-prema vitariy bule dee dee [24] d^na-h^na pp^tp^ savre uddhri amta sichil vive yena gaurahari [25] jaya jaya patita-pvana prabhuvara nys^-chmai bhakti rakaka r^dhara [26] asakhya praati tava pdapadme mora kpya karaha na karmma vandha ghora [27] bhavrave pae udhu hbuuvu khi e adhame uddhriy deha pade h i [28] vandi virbhva-tithi r^ k-navam^ ye ha dhanya haila prabhupda padma chumi [29] vandi hpniy grma mah t^rtha maya vandi prabhu r^ upendra chandrera laya [30] vandi nitya bhachryya-kulbja-bhskara vandi vidy ratna putra rmendra-sundara [31] svadhne vandi mui gaur^ dev^ mt y ra aka lokari prabhu prakit [32] prabhura sambandha dhr^ yateka sujana snande vandan kari savra charaa [33] sabe kp kari more kara ^rvvda nirvvighne hauka lbha prabhura prasda [34] r Guru Praasti 127 Because he is the Guardian of Devotion as the very embodiment of the world chanting of the Glories of the Supreme Lord, his Guru named him r(la r(dhar Mahrj, the Lord of the highest Wealth of the soul. [23] As the saviour of the fallen, he took the mantle of the medicant holding the triple staff, trida@#a, and wandering from place to place he distributed Divine Love for the Holy Name of the Lord. [24] Delivering the sinners and suffering souls from the worst conditions of life, he showered nectar all over the universe just as did our Lord r( Gaurahari. [25] All Glory, all Glory to the Great Benevolent Lord, the crown-jewel of Sannysins, r(la Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. [26] My countless prostrate obeisances unto your holy lotus feet. Be gra- cious and break my terrible mundane bondage. [27] I am drowning in this material ocean. Please rescue this fallen soul and grant him a place at your lotus feet. [28] I sing the Glories of the day of your Advent, the ninth day of the dark moon, who was so blessed to kiss the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace. [29] I sing the Glories of Hpniy Village, the great place of pilgrimage, I sing the Glories of the home of r( Upendra Chandra Prabhu. [30] I eternally sing the Glories of r( Upendra Chandra Vidyratnas Divine son who is the merciful radiant sun, r( Rmendra Sundar, who gave the connection of his Divine Ray to the lotus ower of the Bha$$chryya heritage. [31] Also, I very carefully sing the Glories of Mother Gaur( Dev(, whose lap was effulgent with the merciful Advent of my Lord. [32] With joy I sing the Glories of the feet of all the auspicious souls who had a relationship with my Lord. [33] It is my prayer to you all, please be merciful and bless me that I may without obstacles attain the Loving Service of my Lord. [34] 130 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga r( Guru-Praasti% In Glorication of r( Gurudev by O^ Vi!@upd r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj My Divine Lord and Master, the Abode of all Transcendental Qualities, came down into this world at Village Hpniy in the Holy Land of r( Gaura-Ma@#al. [1] Nyyaratna-Vidyp($h was a famous place of learning, situated near the banks of the Holy River Ganges that puries the universe. [2] There lived the jewel of Brhma@as, r( Upendra Chandra Vidyratna, peaceful and magnanimous. [3] Like the radiant sun of the Bha$$achryya family line, he was superbly learned; he was ever absorbed in the Divine Service of the Supreme Lord and His Consort, r( r( Lak!m(-Nrya@a. [4] His devoted wife was the gracious r(mat( Gaur( Dev(the great saintly lady, the mother of the universe. And she was the mother of my Lord. [5] 1817 aka era, month of vin by the sun, on Saturday the 26th, was his Holy Day of Advent. [6] At the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, and the Moon and Jupiter, with many stars in their highest position, my Lord chose the day of r( V(rachandra Prabhu in the shelter of the same sign of the zodiac that the Supreme Lord r( Rmchandra appeared in. [7] At the auspicious moment of the eighth star P)!y on the ninth day of the month Krttik, mother Earth was blessed as she kissed the lotus feet of my Lord. [8] A great joyous vibration lled the house of chryya Vidyratna as the pious ladies triumphantly blew the conch-shell and rang the bell. [9] All Glory to r( r( Guru-Gaur&ga r( Guru-Praasti% In Glorication of r( Gurudev by O^ Vi!@upd r( r(la Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswm( Mahrj r^ gauramaala-mjhe hpniy grma ya hi avat^ra mora prabhu gua dhma [1] patita pvan^ gag t^ra sannihita nyyaratna-viyp^ha bhuvana-vidita [2] ta hi vaise vipravara pranta udra r^ upendra chandra viyratna nma y ra [3] bhachryya-kula-ravi parama vidvna nirantara sev para lakm^-nryaa [4] t ra patn^ gaur^ dev^ parama pvan^ mah sdhv^ jaganmt prabhura janan^ [5] hraa satera ake saurvina msa anivra, chhvvia divasa paraka [6] budhditya-j^va yoge tuga graha gae rmachandra-ryraye v^rachandra-dine [7] ubhakar^ puy ake krttik^ navam^ dhara^ haila dhanya prabhupada chumi [8] uhila nanda-rola chryya-bhavane akha-gha jayadhvan^ deya nr^gae [9] jnulamvita bhuja puraa sundara dev^ ake obhe divya jyoti manohara [10] heriy putrera rpa mugdha pitmt mugdha haila putra rpe yata pati vrat [11] rmachandra-janma kaa smari vipravara rkhil putrera nma rmendra-sundara [12] aprvva vlaka-obh vypila bhuvane anindya rmendra chandra be dine dine [13] dekhite dekhite prabhu labhil yauvana parama samddha kari vidy uprjjana [14] divya suvimala tanu mahjyotirmmaya nirakhi sakala loka sdhvasa mnaya [15] vairgya bhvita bhakti-pra kalevara aivla-pihita yena mah-sarovara [16] mahjn^ uka prya virakta pradhna heri mt pit mane chinte anukaa [17] sannys^ haive putra n rahibe ghare mah-yog^ mah-tyg^ lakaa ar^re [18] antare nanda, vhye ukha paraka katodine kail vipra r^ vaikuha vsa [19] krame krame prabhu mora pan praki svechchhya vandhana khai hail sannys^ [20] gha tygi mypura karil vijaya gaurga-janma bhumi chidnanda maya [21] r^ bhaktisiddhnta saraswat^ prabhu-sthne lail sannysa d^na uddhra krae [22] 126 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology His Form was beautiful radiant golden. His long arms reached to his knees, the symptom of the great soul. As he curled up in the lap of his gracious mother, a charming Divine Radiance came forth. [10] Seeing their sons beauty, mother and father, and all the chaste wives present were entranced. [11] That best of Brhma@as remembered the auspicious moment of the Appearance of Lord Rmchandra, and so it was that he named his beloved, beautiful son r( Rmendra. [12] The marvellous beauty of the child pervaded the universe. And it was day by day that the spotless moon r( Rmendra grew and grew. [13] All could see as he gracefully bloomed in youth, the supreme treasure of wisdom was his natural acquisition. [14] Seeing his greatly effulgent Divine Perfect Form, all were moved to offer him all respects with reverence. [15] His body, like a great lake covered by moss, was lled with Devotion and absorbed in indifference for the world. [16] Seeing the extreme detachment in his nature just like the great savant ukadev, his mother and father began to feel a constant anxiety. [17] Our son will be a sannys(, he wont stay at home. All the symp- toms of a Paramha^sa completely indifferent to the world are present in his body. [18] Feeling ecstasy within yet showing sorrow outwardly, the Brhma@a r( Upendra Chandra left the world for the Holy Abode Vaiku@$ha. [19] Gradually, my Lord revealed himself to the world, and by his sweet will breaking all ties with the world, he became a Sannys(. [20] Leaving home forever he made his auspicious arrival at Mypur, the Divine Ecstatic Land of r( Gaur&gas Advent. [21] Just for delivering the poor souls of this world, he accepted Sannys from Prabhupd r(la Bhakti Siddhnta Saraswat( Goswm(. [22] r Guru Praasti 129 r^ bhakti rakaka sak^rttana-mrtti dhara sei hetu guru nma rkhil r^dhara [23] patita pvana rpe tridaira vee nma-prema vitariy bule dee dee [24] d^na-h^na pp^tp^ savre uddhri amta sichil vive yena gaurahari [25] jaya jaya patita-pvana prabhuvara nys^-chmai bhakti rakaka r^dhara [26] asakhya praati tava pdapadme mora kpya karaha na karmma vandha ghora [27] bhavrave pae udhu hbuuvu khi e adhame uddhriy deha pade h i [28] vandi virbhva-tithi r^ k-navam^ ye ha dhanya haila prabhupda padma chumi [29] vandi hpniy grma mah t^rtha maya vandi prabhu r^ upendra chandrera laya [30] vandi nitya bhachryya-kulbja-bhskara vandi vidy ratna putra rmendra-sundara [31] svadhne vandi mui gaur^ dev^ mt y ra aka lokari prabhu prakit [32] prabhura sambandha dhr^ yateka sujana snande vandan kari savra charaa [33] sabe kp kari more kara ^rvvda nirvvighne hauka lbha prabhura prasda [34] r Guru Praasti 127 Because he is the Guardian of Devotion as the very embodiment of the world chanting of the Glories of the Supreme Lord, his Guru named him r(la r(dhar Mahrj, the Lord of the highest Wealth of the soul. [23] As the saviour of the fallen, he took the mantle of the medicant holding the triple staff, trida@#a, and wandering from place to place he distributed Divine Love for the Holy Name of the Lord. [24] Delivering the sinners and suffering souls from the worst conditions of life, he showered nectar all over the universe just as did our Lord r( Gaurahari. [25] All Glory, all Glory to the Great Benevolent Lord, the crown-jewel of Sannysins, r(la Bhakti Rak!ak r(dhar Dev-Goswm( Mahrj. [26] My countless prostrate obeisances unto your holy lotus feet. Be gra- cious and break my terrible mundane bondage. [27] I am drowning in this material ocean. Please rescue this fallen soul and grant him a place at your lotus feet. [28] I sing the Glories of the day of your Advent, the ninth day of the dark moon, who was so blessed to kiss the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace. [29] I sing the Glories of Hpniy Village, the great place of pilgrimage, I sing the Glories of the home of r( Upendra Chandra Prabhu. [30] I eternally sing the Glories of r( Upendra Chandra Vidyratnas Divine son who is the merciful radiant sun, r( Rmendra Sundar, who gave the connection of his Divine Ray to the lotus ower of the Bha$$chryya heritage. [31] Also, I very carefully sing the Glories of Mother Gaur( Dev(, whose lap was effulgent with the merciful Advent of my Lord. [32] With joy I sing the Glories of the feet of all the auspicious souls who had a relationship with my Lord. [33] It is my prayer to you all, please be merciful and bless me that I may without obstacles attain the Loving Service of my Lord. [34] 130 rla Guru Mahrjs Centenary Anthology All Glories to r Guru and Gaurga 131 Appendix The following are the translations of the four seed verses catu lok^of r^mad-Bhgavatam (2.9.3336) as given by r^la Bhaktivednta Swm^ Mahrj: 33) Brahm, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihila- tion what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead. 34) O Brahm, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without rela- tion to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness. 35) O Brahm, please know that the universal elements enter into the cosmos and at the same time do not enter into the cosmos; simi- larly, I Myself also exist within everything created, and at the same time I am outside of everything. 36) A person who is searching after the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, must certainly search for it up to this, in all circumstances, in all space and time, and both directly and indirectly. C entenar y ear - All Glories to r Guru and Gaurga A Selection of Publications available from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math English: i) By and about r^la B.R. r^dhar Mahrj: Exclusive Guardianship Holy Engagement Home Comfort Inner Fulfilment Search for r^ KaReality the Beautiful Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Vols. I, II, III & IV r^ Guru and His Grace r^la Guru MahrjHis Divine Pastimes and Precepts r^ K^rtana Maju (The Treasure Chest of Divine K^rtanas) r^-r^ Prapanna-j^vanmtam(Positive and Progressive) r^ r^ Prema Dhma Deva Stotram r^mad Bhagavad-g^t(The Hidden Treasure) Subjective Evolution(The Play of the Sweet Absolute) The Golden Staircase The Guardian of Devotion (San Jose, California Edition) ii) By and about r^la B.S. Govinda Mahrj: Dignity of the Divine Servitor Divine Guidance Golden Reflections r^ Gau^ya Daran 1989-95 (annual Vysa-pj publication) The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration The Divine Servitor iv) Various: Guardian of Devotion (Calcutta Editions Nos.1 & 2) K^rttan Guide (Song Book) Relative Worlds (r^la Bhaktisiddhnta Saraswat^ hkur) r^ Brahma-sahit r^ Chaitanya Mahprabhu His Life and Precepts (r^la hkur Bhaktivinod) r^ Chaitanya Saraswat^#2 (In Hindi, Gujurati& Bengali) 134 booklist Bengali Amrta Vidya Saranagati Saswat Sukhaniketan (Home Comfort) Sri Bhakti Raksak Divya-vani Sri Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu (Complete edition) Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali Sri Gurudeva o Tahara Karuna Sri Kirttan-Manjusa Sri Krsna Karnamrta Sri Nabadwip Bhavataranga Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya Sri Namabhajan o Vicar Pranali Sri Nama-Namabhasa o Namaparadha Vicar Sri Prema Dhama Deva Stotram Sri Siksastakam Sri Sri Kalyan Kalpataru Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam Srimad Bhagavad-gita Suvarna Sopan (Golden Staircase) Hindi Paramartha Path Nirdesh Rasaraj Sri Krishna Sadhana Path Sri Siksastakam Amrita Vidya Portuguese A Busca de Sri Krsna - A Realidade, O Belo Conforto Do Lar Evoluo Subjectiva Spanish Divino Mensaje El Volcn Dorado del Amor Divino El Bhagavata(r^la hkur Bhaktivinod) Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Kolerganj, P.O. 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