Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

One time when Srila Gurudev was abroad for preaching activities and to bestow mercy on some fortunate souls there, I had the opportunity to speak to him over the telephone when he was New Jersey.    Gurudev told that the doctors diagnosed a heart problem and gave some allopathic medicines to him.   Those medicines were causing weakness and hence a disturbance for the performance of Nrityakirtans (dancing while performing kirtans).   So he stopped taking allopathic medicines and started on Homeopathic medicines.   After that, he could perform Nrityakirtans.   I am of the opinion that through this Gurudeva instructed me that if any hindrance comes in the way of service to Supreme Lord, then without worrying about this temporary body we have to give up the thing that is causing hindrance. On another occasion, one of our godsister’s health was not good.   Sometimes evil spirits would possess her.   Once when she and her husband wer...

Recently I visited Bagbazaar Gaudiya Math in the evening and I had a very nice conversation with a senior bramhachari who started to speak about the glories of Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja) when learned that I am His disciple. He shared one of his experiences with Srila Gurudev when he was in New Delhi. Once there was a spiritual conference in New Delhi Gaudiya Math and the devotees who attended the conference were competent in the English Language but there was no one present who could speak in English to make them understand the Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy.  In the meantime, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja entered (he was young and very strong at that time) and immediately Bhakti Hriday/ Rakshak Hrishikesh Maharaj (disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura) proposed Srila Tirtha Maharaj to speak about the Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy in the English language. After that Srila Tirtha Maharaj started to speak profoundly about th...

I witnessed many times  in religious assemblies that Srila Gurudev was speaking Harikatha the whole day through due to the scheduling of so many programs in a day with absolutely no time for him to rest.  I heard Srila Gurudev say that Vaishnavas have arranged so many programs so that my mind be engaged in thoughts of Supreme Lord  and so that my mind does not get to think of worldly matters. He never  complained nor questioned any organizer as to why so many programs were fixed in a day.   I have always seen him converse very patiently.    Considering every activity as Supreme Lord’s will he remained quiet and peaceful always.   Never had I heard or seen in my spiritual life that he was in a disturbed state of mind anytime. —Vishvambhar Das (B. L. Chotani), Manasa  Translated from Sri Krishna Chaitanya Sandesh July-Oct, 1997 (Year 17, Issue No.4, Page 47-49)