Latest
Raga-katha is high, but in our small mouth it doesn’t look nice
In the following letters, appearing in the book Prabhupader Patravali, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Ṭhākura Prabhupāda clearly defines the qualification of raganuga bhakti.
Bhāi Sahajiyā (Part Two)
The second part of Bhāi Sahajiyā was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 20, issue 1. In this section, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura continues to point out the defects of various sahajiyā groups. While some of his points are generic criticisms, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is primarily aiming his criticism at one of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s wayward disciples, Śrī Sītānātha Bhakti-Tīrtha of the Prapannāśrama in Sāuḍī, Bengal.
Bhāi Sahajiyā (Part One)
This is the first part of a famous two-part article ‘Bhāi Sahajiyā’ written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda which was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 19, Issue 11 in 1917. The article addresses the general sahajiyā community and their various kinds of deviancy, but Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes it in the form of a letter to an individual whom he calls ‘bhāi sahajiyā’ (‘brother sahajiyā’). Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s exposé of the peddlers of so-called ‘rasa’ is filled with scathing sarcasm and acts as a warning against cheap spiritual pursuits.
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.”