How can we become pure and how can our behavior be pleasing to Syamasundara and not just a drama? Our eternal svarupa does not change, but our temporary nature and principles are always changing. We follow the mind, whose business is to accept and reject ideas constantly, and we do asat-sanga. Therefore, Ekadasi-devi requests us today to take shelter of Yamuna-devi—then we will be purified. Thus Ekadasi-devi is called Papamocani…
No other process is helpful in Kali-yuga. Srivasa surrendered his existence to Mahaprabhu’s movement of chanting the holy name, for only that name first liberates a person then after grants prema-bhakti and seva-adhikara. Srivasa Pandita taught by example that God’s bhaktas are alone our true relatives and friends. Those who are averse to the chanting of harinama are demons…
Today is Mahaprabhu’s appearance day. In the Caitanya-Bhagavat Vrndavana dasa Thakura describes Mahaprabhu’s pastimes and reserves that nectar for the bhaktas. He says, “If you want to meet with God you must come to Guru. Without Guru you cannot meet Gauranga.” On this phalguni-purnima, all the demigods came to the home of Jagannatha Misra for darsana of his newborn son…
Madhavendra Puri’s Samadhi-mandira is present there in Remuna. Guru and Vaisnavas used to take us there and explain that if you come to this place with the desire for vraja-seva then Gopinatha will happily make all arrangements for you…
Śrīla Gour Govinda Mahārāja lamented to Srila Gurudeva about the jīva-tattva resolution in ISKCON. “Now they are voting on siddhānta,” he said, “and they are turning Prabhupāda’s mission into an apasampradāya. But it cannot last. Śrīla Gour Govinda Svāmī then said, “Mahārāja, I would like to discuss with you in detail about rāgānuga-bhakti and rūpānuga-bhakti.”
Gurudeva taught us to engage every minute in God’s service. He taught us not to collect material things, for they will take us very far away from God and His associates. We will run away to try to enjoy. How many hours do we work to maintain ourselves? We only eat a little bit of pasta, or a piece or two of pizza, or some bread or sandwich, but for that, we are slaves throughout our whole life, simply to maintain this dead material body. How can we come close to God? This Saphala Ekadasi is our helper. She does not disturb anyone. She helps so that when any disturbance comes to us, we will not be disturbed. We will be completely pure and strong. Therefore, she is called Saphala Ekadasi. She gives saphala, a very good fruit…
Knowing that Srimati is in mana, Krsna thinks, “How can I go? I am so full of faults. I have angered Her. When I try to come and meet Her, I remember our lila-vilasa on the way and then I become maddened with prema and cannot continue on the forest path…”
Written on a diamond wall with a golden pen are the words, “Victory to rati!” Rati is supreme, but how can rati come into your heart? Where can it be found? Who gives it? Can it be bought? Can it be obtained by sadhana or tapasya? Impossible. You can do tapasya and sacrifice till your heart turns as dry as a rock, but you will not get this rati, or love. Perhaps you would not like having this rati. Those whose hearts are softened by this rati must undergo great pain…
The Vrajavasis do the greatest tapasya and renunciation but don’t feel that they are doing it. The cowherd boys play and rest on the ground in Vraja, without mats, pillows, or shoes. The gopis are also like this, but their renunciation is the greatest of all. The conditioned souls however are always praying to Laksmi for wealth, opulence, and comfort…