harinama

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    The Seed and Rasa of Bhakti

    ByBhakta Bandhav

    At first, we will have to follow externally; and that is vaidhī-bhakti. If he has past impressions, then he will quickly develop. But if he does not have past impressions his previous births, then it will take some time to develop. But if both are there, then he will advance in devotion very quickly. He will understand what guru is saying. After that, he will gradually come to the stage of rāgānuga; but this is very rare. Artificially, we should not try to imitate certain devotional practices. The potency will come by itself. We should not try to sprout anything artificially. A sprout of devotion will naturally sprout. But if we dig and break that seed, then the tree will never come from the seed. So, we should try to follow these processes.

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    The Glory of Svāmī Prabhupāda and Our Line

    ByBhakta Bandhav

    6 May 1996 Boven-Leeuwen, Holland Srila Gurudeva: First of all, I offer my heartly expressions of devotion to the lotus feet of my Gurudeva, nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda aṣṭottara-śata śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja. I also offer my deep śraddhā and honor to the lotus feet of pujyapada Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja. Also, to…

  • Initiation in Hari-katha & How We Repay Guru

    ByBhakta Bandhav

    Go to any person who is tattva-vetta, whether he is a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or out of varnasrama society, no harm. He may be Mohammedan like Haridasa Thakura, no harm. You should go and take bhakti from him. If you have any bad thoughts about him, considering that he is ugly or black, his teeth are crooked, or he is a rough-speaking person, then you will be making an offense at his lotus feet and you will be cheated…

  • Glories of the Holy Name

    ByBhakta Bandhav

    Sprigs of new leaves adorn His body, and around His neck is an enchanting forest-flower garland of five colors. Dressed in this way, He appears as a fresh, youthful, expert dancer. He rests one hand upon His sakha’s shoulder and with the other He twirls a pastime lotus. His ears are decorated with earrings (kundalas), curly locks of hair splash against His cheeks, and His lotus face blossoms with a gentle smile…

  • BHAJAN IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL

    ByBhaktabandhav

    When will we desire Govinda’s service? How can we be free from all forms of disturbances? How can we perform śravaṇa and kīrtana? A sādhu renounces everything and comes to the temple. But he has no time for harināma or bhajana. How busy he is! He has no time to chant sixty-four rounds or to do kīrtana. What is his purpose? What will happen if he doesn’t receive soul food? Who will protect him? There is māyā in family life, but there can be more māyā near the sādhu.
    Bhajana is food for the soul. We need only be greedy and busy for this. We don’t need anything else. Our business is only hari-kīrtana and hari-smaraṇa.
    Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has spoken how navadha-bhakti is indispensable for the soul. Śravaṇa and kīrtana is especially helpful. When we listen to hari-kathā from a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī, or an uttama-adhikārī, we will receive the moods and tendencies that are in their hearts.
    By listening to an uttama-bhāgavata, the flow of hari-kathā from his heart will immeasurably help us. But, we must determine how much we are ready to accept his instructions. How much can our containers hold? A golden pot is needed to contain a tigresses’ milk, or else the milk will make a hole in the pot and trickle out. But the milk will not make a hole in a container made of gold.