He Takes Sheltered Devotees' Difficulties Upon Himself

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A sādhu's nature is para-dukha-dukhī, always unhappy to see the conditioned souls unhappy. Many times it has been seen that Gurudev's heart would melt hearing anyone speak about their difficulties and sufferings. He would take that upon Himself.  He is so compassionate that he readily gave up his small space to an aggrieved devotee so that they could stay comfortably.  

Whether externally in gross vision or internally, he would take sheltered devotees' difficulties upon himself. We have to remember that this point relates to sheltered devotees.

āśraya laiyā bhaje, kṛṣṇa nāhi tāre tyaje

[Song 43—Vaiṣṇava-mahimā Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura]

Translation: "One who takes āśraya, the shelter of a devotee, Kṛṣṇa does not give him up. Kṛṣṇa accepts him." *

So also, āśraya laiyā bhaje tāre, Gurudeva nāhi tyaje. He is so compassionate that even one who acts as though having taken shelter, he accepts them too, makes them his own.  This no one else can do.  

Seeing even the acting of the so-called devotees, He becomes compassionate. Lord may dismiss such a fake, but Gurudeva accepts him considering that he is doing something even though just acting. So, He is great, He is special.  Knowing fully well Dhrishtadyumna's birth is meant for killing him, Dronacharya still accepted him as a disciple. Guru's position is like that.  

Many times we think, this or that person is useless, but Gurudeva does not see so. Our position is so low and His is so high, elevated.  If we see from His position, we can know how merciful, how compassionate he is. We cannot accept our own low position, but Gurudev's position is different.  

The whole world is burning in the forest fire of sense-enjoyment and you poured ghee into it, says Narada Gosvami to Vedavyasa Rsi. So Gurudeva tells us to say the prayer na dhanaṁ, na janaṁ from the core of the heart and asks, "Can you?"

We speak from mouth easily but to pray for only pure devotion from the heart is very difficult.  The cause of Vedavyasa's appearance is to manifest the glories of the Lord's Names (śabda-brahma) and thus he manifested Śrīmad Bhāgavatam on Narada Gosvami's advice.  

The Lord is Veda, advaya-jñāna-tattva (non-dual absolute truth, one absolute truth,) beyond the material perception of the conditioned souls. 

Gurudeva is the one who makes advaya-jñāna-tattva easy, accessible by the conditioned souls of this world.  The most complex Bhagavat-tattva Gurudev simplifies and presents it so that the common person can understand. Such was the case also when Narada Gosvami gave a mantra to Valmiki making it easy for him to chant. Haridas Thakur gave a very easy method to Lakshahira to attain the Lord.  Gurudeva is that substance.

—Srila Bhakti Kinkar Damodar Maharaj

Excerpt from katha on Sri Guru Purnima, 24.7.2021 (Govardhan)

*Srila Bhaktivendanta Swami Room Conversation -- December 12, 1970, Indore



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