Swami B.V. Bharati

A person who renders service in a completely independent mood without accepting any guidance does not render true service to the Vaiṣṇavas or Bhagavān; rather, he endeavors only to gratify his own senses. Such a person is known as svecchācāri, or a person who acts only according to his own desires. Before beginning any service, one must understand the moods and desires of the sevya (object of service). It is only after gaining such an understanding that one’s service can truly please the sevya and even be called sevā.

Although a praṇayi-bhakta may be present before us, and though we may personally witness his conduct, we will be unable to recognize him until we become completely sincere and surrender ourselves to his will. Without sincerity and surrender, we will not realize that his activities are those of a mahā-bhāgavata, and not of an ordinary devotee.

By Srila Bhakti Vijnana Baharti Gosvami Maharaja Śrīla Mahārāja used to mention, “Prior to performing every significant activity, Guru Mahārāja would first call upon different devotees in private to seek their opinions and only later reveal his personal verdict on the...

Mercy is the result of service Many people come to me and request, “Mahārāja-jī, please bestow your mercy and extend your blessings to us, so that we may attain śuddha-bhakti (pure devotional service) and ultimately attain prema for Śrī Bhagavān.” But truly speaking,...

(Excerpt from the book Visuddha Caitanya Vani, by Sri Srimad Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja ) The beggar’s fortune There was once a beggar who was unable to eat properly, even after a full day of collecting alms. One day while walking alone through the...

By Srimad Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja The topmost manifestation of bhakti – the ultimate fruit of sādhana-bhakti - is prema-bhakti. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has described the symptoms of the various stages of bhakti in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.17): kleśa-ghnī...

Prerequisites for the Sincere Observance of Bhāgavata-dharma by Sri Srimad Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,Śrīla Vedavyāsa has stated: dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁvedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu...

By Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaj Śrīla Prabhupāda used to say, “Never in my life have I once accepted anything from anyone belonging to this material world. As a servant of śrī guru, Vaiṣṇavas and Bhagavān, I have openly distributed what belonged to me...

By Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaj Ordinarily, the term jīva-hiṁsā is understood by people to mean ‘a physical or emotional act of violence against living entities, including oneself.’ If a person commits suicide, it is said that person has committed...