(Here you can find some extracts from the Harikatha of Shri Shyam das Babaji Maharaja spoken either on Avirbhava or Tirobhava tithis of Sri Srimad Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvāmī Mahārāja )
Gaudiya Gosthi Pati Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Gosvami Prabhupada said–” We can show inclination and devotion unto the Lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva, as long as our personal interest is not disturbed. As soon as our personal interest is disturbed than the mystery of our false inclination gets manifested. Srila Prabhupada told, in that case first of all non-cooperation movement can start with Guru -Vaishnava, and in second stage competition can start with Guru- Vaishnava, and in the third stage openly hostility can be seen against Guru- Vaishnava, this is the condition of our kapat anugatya.”
Nowadays people accepting a Guru in a very fanciful way, ignoring those scriptural instructions. Actually they all want to gratify their sensual demands, so they prefer to accept such a Guru who can approve their fanciful attitude. Suppose if they find that the teachings of Gurudev going against their self-interest, in that case then and there they are ready to reject their Guru, that is the poor condition at present. Whom to blame? Maya Maya and Maya everywhere Maya.
Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada also said: “If I seek the path leading to the ultimate goal then I must ignore the countless words of the popular wisdom and hear only that of the realized souls“. Srila Sarasvati Thakur told that, in the name of Hari Bhajan and Hari Katha, people are been cheated. Those who are running to listen here and there are automatically cheated. Why? They want to be cheated, that’s why they are been cheated. If sufficient sincerity is present inside of our hearts, then it is the duty of Baladev-Nityananda to guide us properly and no question of being misguided is arising. The bounded souls are traveling among the 14 planetary systems and it is the duty of Nityananda Prabhu to help them. It Is His first duty to guide them by sending the shravan-guru. By meeting a Sadhu, the bounded soul can feel some inspiration and after that can take shelter in guru and Vaisnavas. The duty of Nityananda is also to send you the diksha-guru. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said that we must wait for the realized soul to come to us, which means that kind of Guru must know the tattva from heart, in this way in his life and conduct he has no discrepancies. Tattva-vid and tattva-vadi, two terms. Tattva-vadi means those who can speak about tattva nicely but they have not realized it. Tattva-vid means those who have realized the tattva from heart; they can meet the tattva face to face. This kind of Gurudev has the power to inculcate inside your heart a feeling of seva bhava. It is the duty of a Sad-Guru to inculcate seva bhava inside you. If you are sincere and if your Gurudeva is Sad-Guru then 100% you can get inspiration to do seva.
Seva means to seek the satisfaction of Guru- Vaishnava – Bhagavan
There is one nice example. Once one Grihasta Bhakta was receiving my Gurudev, it was in the month of December, very cold, then that disciple he arranged very nice hot water to wash Gurudev’s Lotus feet, its quit natural because Gurudev feels comfortable and after that they put him in a chair give garland and so on. One foolish person was watching all these things, he saw how he was making the water hot this and that. Then after long time Gurudev was coming to that person’s house, that so-called devotee. He receives Gurudev but this time it was hot season, but still as he saw previously he starts to make hot water and wanted to put it on Gurudev’s Lotus feet, then Gurudev was shouting–” Oh! what you are doing, foolish, then this person said–“I saw this is the rule, so I just followed”. He was thinking he is doing seva, but this is not seva. Seva means to seek the satisfaction of Guru and Vaishnava it is not according to your whimsical attitude. Please everywhere where we go we must speak about this Siddhanta so that all other common devotees can also grow that kind of Siddhanta in their heart.
All the activities of Paramahamsa Guru Vaishnavas are beyond our imagination
Once Srila Guru Pada Padma –Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaja was leading the whole Braja Mandal Parikrama party together with Sri Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvami Maharaja ( the Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math). But after Sri Srila Bhakti Daitya Madhava Gosvami Maharaja gone from this material world Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvami Maharaja or Srila Bhakti Vigyana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja, all they used to follow him as their own Gurudeva, so naturally under His guidance, the whole Parikram program was very scientific and systematic. One day the whole parikrama party was doing Goverdhana Parikrama under the guidance of Sri Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Maharaja, but his Paramahamsa acharan was not clear to everybody, so some of them where feeling disturbances due to his slow parikrama, so they wanted to cross Srila Maharaja and go fast to take prasadam and rest. When Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvami Maharaja came to know about their dirty fanciful attitude then he was expressing his fiering mood just like lion, he started speaking heavily –“ You go, you go quickly because you are suffering due to lack of anugatya. Foolish ! What you can see without the kripa of pure Guru- Vaishnava, if they are not going to share their direct feeling of Bhajan- Parikarm then what we can understand? What for we are coming here in Vrindavan, to take rest and to seek personal facility or to do Bhajan – Parikrama?
One time I asked Gurudeva—“Maharaja! we read this point ’Inclination’ (anugata). Sometimes we hear about this point, from different sadhus different way. But i would prefer to get a direct example from you to clarify this point. Then immediately Srila Guru Maharaja wanted to draw my attention to his sannyas danda to make me understand the point positive way. He started speaking–“What is that? “. Then i told it is your sannyas danda. So what? Then Srila Guru Maharaja started speaking that—“ Saranagati means hundred percent submission. Hundred percent submission means you can have no smell of personal desire in your Bhajan life. In Srimad Bhagavatam it is written that Genuine Saranagati means–“Vikrito pasor yatha” ( just like a beast already sold in Market). Because a beast if sold to somebody can not have any personal desire. What master going to arrange is the final. “
Another time I asked Srila Guru Maharaja, ‘Maharaja !, Actually some sannyasis and brahmacharis they are criticizing me. They are speaking that I’m not smart, not going for preaching, etc. So i am in confusion about this point. I like to know from you about actual preaching, what do you think?. Could you please kindly save me by the help of your Harikatha? Guru Maharaja started speaking to me–“Look! My son, let them speak and do whatever they like, but first i like to know your vicar, what you think?”. Then by the mercy of Gurupadmapadma, i started speaking that –“ Guru Maharaja! i think those who are going to get established in Vaishnavi Prathista only and only they can go for preaching, nobody else. Because if prathistha going to contaminate my heart, in that case i should not go for preaching. Vaishnavi prathista is totally established unto the Lotus feet of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Noon of our Gaudiya Guruvarga wanted to utilize it for their personal purpose. Any amount of labh, puja ,prathista coming in our life should be offered unto the Lotus feet of original Guru tattva – Sriman Nityananda Prabhu through Guruparampara.
Srila Prabhupada told –
vaishnavi pratishtha, tate koro nishtha,
taha na bhajile labhibe raurava
“Please cultivate fixed determination to attain only the steady and solid platform whereupon a Vaishnava ever stands. If you neglect worshiping the Lord from this position, then you will ultimately attain a hellish existence.”
Then Srila Guru Maharaj was very happy to hear my vicar. He started –“ Yes! Yes ! my son this is the appropriate answer. If there is no bhajan power—What they can preach? From Sri Caitanya Caritamrita we know the standing instruction of Sriman Mahaprabhu in the following way—
“krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana”– Unless a devotee is specifically empowered by the Lord, he cannot preach the holy name of the Lord all over the world.
Preaching and cheating almost same externally but there is a heaven and hell difference between these two, one is full of mercy whereas the other is full of Jiva himsa. Srila Prabhupada used to say that a platform speaker can never became a genuine preacher, also he used to say that—“ A flattering personality can never become a preaching personality.” And we heard from Srila Prabhupada that –“ Without hundred percent submission unto the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord one can never speak about that absolute truth absolute way.” After hearing all in details from Srila Gurudeva i was very very happy.
Then also i wanted to know clearly about Yukta Vairagya from Srila Guru Maharaja. According to my honest inquery Srila Guru Maharaja started speaking –“ Anything and everything if done for the total satisfaction of the Supreme Lord is actual Yukta Vairagay, which can show all proper adjustment in a very excellent way in our life. Look! My son Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada very often used to Quote the two following slokas to make us understand about the very sensitive and secret topic of “Yukta Vairagya”. I am going to explain this sensitive point under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada. Try to pay full attention—
In two verses Rupa Gosvami has described the secret of bhajana:
anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktarh vairagyam ucyate
Not being attached to anything yet properly using everything in relation to Krsna is yukta-vairagya, renunciation suitable for bhakti.
prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate
Renunciation, by persons desiring liberation, of items related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, considering them material, is called phalgu (insignificant and worthless). (Brs 1.2.255-56)
According to worldly vision we should be either enjoyers or renouncers, considering the world either enjoyable or rejectable. As long as we hold such rascally conceptions we can bid farewell to eligibility for genuine bhajana.
Gaura Hari Haribol
Srila Prabhupada´s Last Instructions
By Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Maharaja
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur ended his sojourn amongst the mortals of this world on Friday, January 1, 1936, at 4:26 in the morning. A week prior to his disappearance, on December 23, Prabhupada gave a number of significant instructions to the disciples who came to see him. These were compiled and published in issues 23 and 24 of the 15th volume of the weekly Gaudiya magazine. These issues were dedicated to the disappearance of Srïla Prabhupàda. I have tried here to put these instructions in verse form below.
(1) sakale parama utsaha sahakare
rupa raghunatha vani pracara sabara
All of you preach the message of Rupa and Raghunatha to everyone with great enthusiasm.
(2) rupanuga-pada-dhuli haite sabara
(jena) carama akanksa citte jage anibara
May the ultimate desire to become a speck of dust at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Goswami remain ever awake in our hearts.
(3) advaya-jnana-tattva vraje vrajendra-nandana
(mula)-visaya-vigraha sei sarva-sevya-dhana
Vrajendranandana Krishna is the principle of non-dual consciousness. He is the root object of devotion and the treasured object of service for all.
(4) tanra aprakrta indriya tarpana uddese
asrayanugatye sabe thaka mile mise
In order to satisfy the transcendental senses of the one, non-dual supreme truth, remain united in following Radha, the original reservoir of love for Him.
(5) sabara uddesya eka srl-hari-bhajana
taha sadhibare sabe karaha jatana
Everyone make the effort to perfect your worship of Sri Hari; make this the only purpose of your lives.
(6) du’ dinera jani ei anitya-samsara
ihate mamata tyaji hao maya-para
Remember that this world is temporary and lasts only a day or two. Give up your family attachment and transcend this world of illusion.
(7) kona-rupe jivana nirvaha kari cala
nitya-tattva krsna-bhakti karaha sambala
Maintain your worldly obligations in whatever way you can, but make the eternal principle, devotion to Krishna, the true provision for your voyage through life.
(8) vipad ganjana sata sata se lanchana
asuk tathapi hari-bhajana chero na
Let hundreds of dangers, insults or persecutions come, but despite them, do not give up your worship of
Krishna.
(9) sarva-vighna-vinasana prabhu gaura-hari
avasya sri-pade sthana dibena daya kari
Lord Gaura Hari destroys all obstacles on the path. He will surely be merciful and give you a place at His lotus feet.
(10) sri-krsna-vimukha heri adhikamsa jana
suddha-krsna-seva-katha na kare grahana
(11) hayo na utsaha-hlna tahate kakhana
chero najivatu tava nijera bhajana
When you see that most people are indifferent to Sri Krishna and show no interest in the selfless service to Krishna and in talking about Him, don’t be discouraged. Most of all, never give up your bhajan—your life and soul.
(12) nija sarvasva krsna-katha sravana-kirtana
chariya daridrya kena karibe varana
Why would you accept the poverty of a life devoid of hearing and chanting about Krishna, your sole prop-erty?
(13) krsna-pada-padma magajivera kalyana
acire purabe vancha sarva-saktiman
Beg for Krishna’s lotus feet, the ultimate benediction for all living beings. The Lord is all-powerful and will quickly fulfill your desire.
(14) asamartha nahe krsna dhare sana-bala
(krsna-)sevakera vancha kabhu na hay a viphala
Krishna is not incapable. He is omnipotent and the desires of His servants never go in vain desires of His servants ni
(15) trnapeksa hina dina apane manibe
taru-sama sahya-guna bhusita haibe
(16) amani manada haye sada nama labe
sri-nama-bhajane sarva-pradhana janibe
Please always chant the name of the Lord,being humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than the tree. Give all respect to others and demand none for yourself. Make the worship of the Holy Name the most important aspect of your devotional life.
(17) sri-caitanya-pravartita sankirtana-yajna
ihate laiya diksa bhajibena vijna
A wise person will worship the Lord after taking initation in the sacrifice of the Holy Name established by Sri Krishna Chaitanva and His associates
(18) sapta-sikha nama yajnanale atmahuti
visese kalite ei sastrera jukati
Offer yourself up into the seven flames of this sacrificial fire. The scriptures say that this especially is the religious principle in the Age of Kali.
(19) karma-vira dharma-vira haya kaja nai
jnana-yoga-tapa-adi pathe kasta pai
We do not seek to become heroes performing great works or religious deeds; we will become distressed if we take up the paths of knowledge, works or austerities.
(20) sri-rupera pada- dhuli janaha svarupa
sei se sarvasva tahe na hao virupa
Know that your true identity is to be a speck of dust at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Prabhu; dont go against this identity, which is your treasure
( 21) rupanuga-varya hana sri bhaktivinoda
se bhaktivinoda-dharaya bahe suddha moda
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is the best of all the followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami. The pure joy of devotional service comes in the stream which started with him.
(22) bhakti-rasamrta-purna sei puta dhara
kakhano habe na ruddha sata-vighna dvara
That stream is holy and full of the nectarean flavors of devotion. It will never be stemmed by even a hun-dred obstacles.
(23) se dharaya haiya snata buddhiman jana
bhaktivinoda-mano’bhlsta karaha purana
Intelligent persons who have bathed in the waters of this stream should endeavor to fulfill the heartfelt wishes of Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
(24) bahu yogya krti-vyakti achaha tomara
hao sabe aguwan esa kari tvara
Amongst you are many capable and worthy individuals. So all of you come forward and quickly take up this task.
(25) dante trna dhari eijaci punah punah
sri-rupa-pada-dhuli jena hai janma janma
Taking grass between my teeth, I pray repeatedly that I may become a speck of dust at Sri Rupa Goswami’s lotus feet, birth after birth.
(26) iha vina anyakanksa nahuka hrdaye
ei vancha sarva-hrde hauk udaye
Other than this, I pray that no other desire will ever manifest in my or anyone’s heart.
(27) e samsare thaka-kale ache nana badha
tahe muhyaman kabhu nahibc sarvatha
While living in the world, we encounter many difficulties, but there is no need for us to ever be bewildered by them.
(28) badha matra dura karai nahe prayojana
atahpara kiba labhya cinte vijna-jana
We need make no effort to remove any of these obstacles. What is necessary for us, while we are still here, is to learn what follows—what will be the nature of our eternal life.
(29) nitya-atma ami mora nilya sei jivana
ekhani hauk tdra tattva-nirdharana
Let us realize the nature of our eternal spiritual identity and our eternal life in the spiritual world at this very moment.
(30) akarsana-vikarsanera vastu ache jata
cahi va na cahi emana kahiba va kata
There are so many things that attract and repel us. There is no end to the things that we desire and distain.
(31) ei duhun mimamsa sighra kari matiman
nitya-tattva krsna-bhakti karaha sandhana
We have to resolve exactly what we do or do not want and decide to search out devotional service to Krishna, the eternal truth.
(32) o duwera yuddhe jadi jayi hate cao
(tabe) aprakrta namakrsta hale raksa pao
If you wish to conquer over attractions and repulsions then you should remember that by becoming attracted to the transcendental Holy Name, you will be delivered from them.
(33) krsna-seva rasa-katha tabe ta bujhibe
tuccha saba rasa prati ghrna upajibe
Then you will understand the nature of service to Krishna and the taste of His divine topics. Then you will feel nothing but disgust for the other insignificant pleasures of this world.
(34) krsnanusilana jata vardhita haibe
(jara) visaya-pipasa tata kamite thakibe
As you increase cultivating your consciousness of Krishna, your thirst for material sense objects will decrease.
(35) bara-i kathina tattva krsna-katha haya
apata camaka-prada jatilartha-maya
The philosophy of Krishna consciousness is very perplexing. At first it seems startling and full of complex details.
(36) nami hate tanra nama adhika karuna
asraya laile tattva karena jnapana
The Holy Name is more compassionate than the Lord of the Name Himself. If one takes shelter of the Name, then it unravels all these philosophical complexities.
(37) nitya-prayojana modéra krsna-prema-dhana
tàhà anubhave kâma bàdhe sarva-ksana
The treasure of love for Krishna is the eternal goal : : our lives. Material desires interfere at every momer.: with our realizing it.
(38) nâmàsraye sei bàdhà haya apanita
krsna-prema-râjye vàsa haya abhïpsita
By taking shelter of the Holy Name, all these obstacles are removed and we can obtain the fulfillment of our true desire, to dwell in the realm of pure love of Krishna.
(39) ejagate keha nahe anurâga-pàtra
athavà virâga-pàtra nahe anumàtra
In this world no one is the special object of my affection, nor do I have the slightest hostility toward any- one.
(40) sakala vyavasthà ethâ ksana-sthâyï haya
ethà-kàra làbhàlàbha vicàràrha naya
Whatever arrangements we make here in this world are momentary. There is no need to waste time thinking about gain or loss here.
( 41) sabakara labhya sei eka prayojana
sri-krsna padaravinda prema mahadhana
The only thing anyone should strive for is the one supreme goal of life. That is the great treasure of love for Krishna’s lotus feet.
(42) tad-uddesya sabe mili hao yatnavan
eka-dhyana eka-jnana hao eka-tana
So, join together all of you and strive for this goal. Work together in harmony with the same thoughts, the same consciousness.
(43) ekoddesya aikatane avasthita hao
muldsraya-vigraha-sevdya adhikdra lao
Working together with the same purpose, you will become qualified for the service of Radharani, the original reservoir of love for Krishna.
(44) rupanuga-cinta-srota hok pravahita
ta hate svatantrya kabhu nahe samihita
May the stream of ideas promoted by Rupa Goswami and his followers flow. We must never try to be independent of his doctrine.
(45) sapta-jihva nama-sankirtana-yajna prati
kakhano virago jena nd haya arati
May that we never become indifferent or disinterested in the sacrifice of the Holy Name with its fire of seven flames. ,
(46) ekantanuraga tahe thake vardhamdna
tabe ta sarvartha-siddhi purna manaskama
In the performance of sankirtana, if your single- minded devotion goes on increasing, then all your desires will be fulfilled and all your goals achieved.
(47) sri-rupa-anuga janera pada-padma dhara
ekanta bhavete tandera anugatya kara
Take hold of the feet of the followers of Sri Rüpa Goswami and follow them with exclusive commit¬ment.
(48) (sri)-rupa-raghunatha-katha parama-utsahe
nirbhaye pracara kara sarva-siddhi jahe
Preach the message of Sri Rupa and Raghunatha fearlessly and with great enthusiasm. Through this preaching, you will attain all perfection.