According to the preacher’s intensity and purity of realization, their preaching of hari-katha may be of many types. The mahā-bhagavata, madhyama-bhagavata, kaniṣṭha-bhagavata may talk about Hari, but there is a great difference in the deepness of their conception and commitment.
His loving devotion to Sri Krishna, his dedication to Sri Gaura-Nityananda’s marvellous Pastimes, His self-manifest faith in the devotional siddhanta of the best of the Rupanugas—Srila Bhakti Vinod and Srila Saraswati Thakur, His joy in the sadhu’s association, his mad endeavours to serve Sri Guru, his unconquerable conviction to serve, his lightning bolt-like firmness towards the wicked, his flower-like gentleness towards the good-natured, his sincere behaviour, his impeccable moral life, his melted-hearted compassion for the unfortunate, his natural courage, his eloquence in the assemblies of sadhus—this great soul’s unlimited qualities, having assembled within his supramundane character, are brightening and blessing this world, the field of his campaign.
So Arjuna, you take advantage of this and boldly declare to the public that My devotee who gives himself wholly unto Me can never come to ruination. Even if he may be seen to be outwardly doing something wrong – he will be saved. His successful life is assured. By this declaration, you will get the benefit of becoming righteous and have the chance of attaining eternal spiritual peace. Whoever can understand this and has the courage to declare that My exclusive devotee is never subject to ruination – he, in turn, gets his chance to come to this path of exclusive devotion, and he will attain eternal peace.”
Whoever Lalita-devi meets in Vraja-dhama, she requests them to join her own party. And when they come, “Yes, come with me.” At once she is giving admission. “Come! Join the service of Radharani.” She is canvassing to look after the interests of Radharani. Such intense attention to the service of Radharani is never found anywhere else. Lalita-devi sometimes even chastises Krsna boldly. She takes risks by reproaching Krsna, “You do not know the dignity of my Mistress.”Sometimes Radharani feels ashamed within Her mind. She thinks, “What does He say about Me?” Lalita-devi replies, “This shame is very bad. You just sit quietly. You do not know Your own interest. I know what is Your interest, Your position.
Through Krishna consciousness we have connected with the highest object of life, the highest fulfillment of life—what price are we ready to pay for that? It is inconceivable. Whatever little demands may be expected from us, we must accept with a smiling face, considering the highest goal. If we are really confident, if we have faith in our bright future, then we can gladly pay what little price nature wants to take from us.
In spite of daily hearing the warning bells of the thunderous declarations from Sri Gaudiya Matha and witnessing all kinds of endeavors by the matha residents to instill and nurture within our hapless sick minds the seeds of nectarean hari-katha, and endeavoring to establish a loving connection with God – still there is a gulf of difference between that which we are knowingly rejecting in favor of some other illusory charm!
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ We should take resort to kīrtan always, but Mahāprabhu recommends that our attitude should be such: tṛṇād api sunīcha, taror api sahiṣṇu, amānī mānada. It is generally upwards, all towards high. Our attitude will be humble,...
And one thing we must always keep in mind is that we can’t investigate all of the subtle, higher knowledge as a subjective researcher. Rather, according to the degree of our saranagati, our surrender, the Truth will come down to make Himself known to us.
The gradation of transcendental realisation has been explained by Srila Sanatan Goswami in his book Brhad Bhagavatamrta. There we find that in the course of the realisation of suddha-bhakti, pure devotional service, the great sage Narad Muni is visiting different places. First, he encounters karma-misra bhakti, or devotional service mixed with fruitive activities.
A Govardhan-sila was given by Sriman Mahaprabhu to Raghunath Das Goswami. As the Salagram-sila is respected amongst the brahmans in the varnasram system, so the Govardhan-sila is worshipped amongst the Vaisnavites. The Salagram-sila is also called the Gandaki-sila
By Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja, from the article “Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear to Tread” There are many things below, but the charm and reasonableness of the higher plane, that is enough to convince a person to come this side, and these high Lilas should be left...
Transcribed from an informal talk at Nabadwip Sri Caitanya Sarasvata Matha on 13th March, 1981. "Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, preached exclusively this Madhurya-rasa, but with great precaution. What is not that thing, he used perhaps 90% of...
by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj A unique compilation of Sanskrit verses that contain most Pastimes of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, written by Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Sri Sri Prema Dhama Deva Stotram has...
By His Divine Grace Srila B.R. Sridhara Dev Gosvami Maharaja, We should not think that our path will be very smooth. So many troubles may come from outside. In India, when you go out in the streets with the kirtana party, so many may come and say, “You monkeys!...