He Inquires About Our Divine Welfare

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The most important day of my life is when I got brahman-dīkṣā from Śrīla Gurudeva. All the devotees were getting a short time to talk with him. I lived nearby, so I was asked by the sevākas, "What will you say? You get the chance to speak with him every day."

Yet, I thought this was my golden opportunity. When I finally went into the room, I just sat looking at Him. Guru Mahārāja first told me the methods of chanting the dīkṣā-mantras and I was so completely mesmerized by his beauty that it was impossible for me to move my eyes from his face. 

When Śrīla Gurudeva started chanting the mantra, I was not repeating after him.

He said, "You have to repeat after me—say!"

Then, I started chanting after he did. Again my mind was diverted to his beautiful face, so I was just looking at him. He again chanted the second mantra and asked me to repeat it.

He said, "Say!" Then Guru Mahārāja again chanted the mantras. 

As I was busy looking at him, I asked him to please chant the mantra again. Some of the words were difficult for me to pronounce. So, Guru Mahārāja would not leave me until I pronounced it properly.

After giving me all the mantras, He raised his hand up and said, "Chant these mantras, don’t be afraid of anyone. The blessings of Caitanya Mahāprabhu are there." 

The next day when I came at the time of darśana to pay obeisances, Guru Mahārāja again made an inquiry.

"Chanting? You're chanting?" 

I said, "Yes, Guru Mahārāja, by your grace."

—Śuṇḍāra Gopāla Dāsa, Kolkata



Comments

  1. Padmnabha DasSeptember 19, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    Hare Krishna, when i was taking diksha from Srila Gurudev, i was also not able to understand some part of mantra, then Gurudev told me the spelling of the mantra. I was very young to understand the compassion of Gurudev then, now i am realising that Gurudev was so concerned about the proper pronunciation of Mantra and he is ONLY my true well wisher. thanks for sharing this message. Hare Krishna. Dandvats.

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