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Showing posts from April, 2020

He Explains What Real Service Is

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I was a full-time brahmachari traveling with Guru Maharaj for all preaching tours. I once approached Guru Maharaj and asked Him for some special service. Guru Maharaj replied, "Have I not given you service already?" I was puzzled and asked "What Service?" He said, "Harinam is the highest service. So why are you not doing Harinam?" I told Him that I am already chanting my rounds. Guru Maharaj firmly said, "The way you are chanting now, you will stay here (in material world) for millions and billions of lifetimes" It meant I was not very serious in chanting Harinam. Further, Gurudev said, "If we are not chanting properly and giving concentration and importance to chanting, then all other services are zero." —Vrindavan Das, Ukraine (recollected during a glorification of Srila Gurudev Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj in Zoom session held on 18 April 2020. Transcribed by Damodar Das, Malaysia)

He Attributes All Spiritual Qualities to Guruvarga

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I used to tell Gurudeva that I had not seen any other Maharaj doing nritya kirtan like him. He would reply that he had learned it from my Gurudeva and from Jajavar Goswami Maharaj, who was next of our Math and also very dear to Param Gurudeva and loves our Gurudeva very much. Guru Maharaj expressed so much feeling for Jajavar Maharaj. He said, "He taught me nritya kirtan."  Also staying in Chaitanya Math there was one Sarangadev Goswami Maharaj, who was also the in charge of the publication department. He used to engage Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj was telling that Sarangadev Goswami Maharaj taught him proofreading and printing. —Rasavihari Das, Jammu

A Poem Honoring His Disappearance Anniversary

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Śrīla Gurudev Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Mahārāj ki jay! April 15th, 2020 Three years ago this day You left. “Everything will be zero, Zero, ZERO!!!” You used to say. And I concur That so we were: Bereft. As well, you used to say, “Nothing will happen all of a sudden.” Such was your going away. So kind, So gentle. Time to prepare the mind To be shaken At a depth so fundamental, Steel-framed hearts must needs awaken To that longing at the core To be felt forevermore. Yet you spoke of hope and fortune. “Ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm!” So often did you proclaim And so loudly, that in that proportion You told us to often reframe In terms of that story. Each day, each week, who am I? The haughty and fiery sage Who for nothing flew into a rage At some imagined slight to his glory? “Look to your own prescription!” My job is to purify Myself alone. That’s what you’ve shown. This teaching you would exemplify. Though presiding over a mission For decades, revered by all, And at the

He Teaches Us Respect and Gratitude in All Circumstances

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Nowadays Prahlad Prabhu is giving class from Sridham Mayapur on Srimad Bhagavatam. During this time, locked down at home, we all are getting highly benefitted. While he speaks harikatha, he gives various examples of Srila Gurudev, Srila Paramgurudev, Srila Prabhupada, and other Guruvargas. The other day Prahlad Prabhu was speaking from the seventh chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam- discussion between avadhut brahmin and King Yadu. The avadhut brahmin was saying to King Yadu how he had accepted and received various instructions from twenty-four different gurus— the earth, the wind, the sky, the water, fire, and so on. While Prahlad Prabhu was discussing what instruction the avadhut brahmin received from the sun, he gave an example of what our Srila Gurudev would say about the sun in Summertime. It immediately reminded me of a very sweet exchange of conversation I had with Srila Gurudev in the Summer of 2012. Summers are scorching usually in Kolkata during June and July. I was waiting out