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Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura at the Bhajana Kuṭīra of Śrīla Jagannātha Dāsa Bābāji
Should one constantly chant or just do service? This eternal question on the lips of every sādhaka is answered by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda in this instructive pastime concerning some errant disciples of Jagannātha Dāsa Bābāji and Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. This article is extracted from the hari-kathā of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura originally spoken at Śrī Caitanya Maṭha on the evening of December 21st, 1927.
Scientific Understanding of Ekādaśi
Fasting is called upavāsa. Upa means samipe [‘near’], to always remain [vāsa] by the side of Kṛṣṇa and supply whatever He wants. In doing so, servitors forget to take food and other things for themselves. They want to be more busily engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa, because at this time of need, they will fetch more remuneration, more affinity for Kṛṣṇa, more grace. So, upavāsa [‘fasting’] means samipe vāsa [‘staying near’]. And, secondarily, by fasting, we can make our body dry so that our enjoying spirit will be lessened. These are the two general explanations of Ekādaśi.
Vikrīḍitaṁ vraja-vadhūbhir…
This article ‘Vikrīḍitaṁ vraja-vadhūbhir’ was originally written by an unknown author under the editorship of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and first published in the 8th volume of Dainika Nadīyā Prakāśa on 29th October 1933 under the title, ‘Rasa Yātrā.’ The article explains the dangers of hearing higher topics for the conditioned jīvas and how Śukadeva Gosvāmī has himself warned about this.
Saṁbhoga and Vipralambha
Within this manifest līlā of vipralambha, He veiled the dark-hued (śyāma-varṇa) form of His union-imbued (saṁbhoga-mayī) Krishna-mūrti with the golden radiance (campakābha) of Rādhikā. Thus, to the initial perception of the saṁbhoga-oriented observer, this “sannyāsī”-like Krishna appears as the embodiment of renounced enjoyment—a paradigm of relinquished union.
Who Can be an Ācārya?
One who is given unreserved mercy by Śrī Gurudeva, whom Gurudeva does not want to deceive, is considered to be a disciple who is worthy of chastising and instructing. He does not cheat his most beloved disciple by offering all sorts of eulogies like, “You are so good,” “I am a dog in your house” or by giving members of the seminal succession (śaukra-vaṁśa) plenty of wealth, clothes, jewellery and rasagūlas to enjoy.
Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī (108 Opulences of Śrīla Saraswati Thākura)
Based on and expanded from “Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Gosvāmī Prabhupāda” (Gaudīya 9.440-41), which was a list of sixty-five items authored by “Śrī-Caitanya-mathāśrita-sevaka-vṛnda” (the body of servants in the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Matha). It was compiled as it appears below by Śrīmad Bhakti Kusuma Śramana Mahārāja (formerly named Śrī Kṛṣṇa-kānti Brahmacārī), after the tirobhāva of Śrīla Sarasvati Ṭhākura.
The conception of Gaura-nagari-bhava has been totally rejected by our Gaudiya Guruvarga
Gauḍīya Goṣṭhī Pati Śrī Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda said that—”To consider a nondevotee a devotee, and false bhakti as bhakti, is simply self-deception. Until one is fortunate enough to serve and respect devotees, he will continue to desire to fabricate that nondevotees are devotees. Can a crow become a peacock simply by wearing peacock feathers? Can a blue jackal become the king of animals? How long can cheating remain covered? The truth will certainly be revealed.”
Neutrality (Nirapekṣatā)
True nirapekṣatā means refraining from supporting anyone out of self-interest. Often, we stand by those close to us even when they are at fault. By doing so, we unknowingly harm their spiritual welfare. Yet, we act in this manner out of selfish motives, driven by the hope of gaining some benefit from them.
Om̐ viṣṇupāda Srī Srīmad Bhaktisiddhānta-Sarasvatī -gosvāmicaraṇānāṃ -nityalīlāpraveśamuddiśya Vilāpakusumāñjaliḥ
O Divine Lord of Vraja, you who are the beloved life and soul of Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī (Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī), and who eternally reside in the transcendental temple of Your supreme pastimes, We, the most fallen and destitute souls, take shelter at Your lotus feet. Now that our beloved Gurudeva who is intimate servant of Rādhārāṇī (vṛṣabhānu-nandinī-dayitā) and a radiant embodiment of Your compassion, went (vraja) into the eternal embrace of his beloved divine couple (nija-nātha-mandiram), We pray that his mercy continues to flow upon us who is the shelter of the surrendered, I offer my deepest obeisances, time and again.
Madhur rasa? Remember it is far better late than never
Gauḍīya Goṣṭhī Pati Śrī Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda Paramahaṁsa- Jagad Guru said that—”While anarthas are there inside our heart, one cannot start hari-bhajana.” Really what a kind of revolting absolute siddhānta vichar it is! Which means that even hari-bhajan cannot start, then what to speak about prema bhakti which is beyond human comprehension. Śrīla Prabhupāda very often used to say that— “Oh! Devotees do not try to overlook the most basic differences existing in those following technical devotional terms available in śāstras like sādhana bhakti, bhāva bhakti, prema bhakti.