Syamarani didi --- Taste, Prabhupada, Sound --- Grass Valley, 06/11/12

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

June 11, 2012
Grass Valley
Syamarani didi

"Srila Prabhupada said 'This chanting comes from the depths of the soul.' Also - 'When godbrothers argue, it should be considered as clouds passing the sky.' Unnoticed; insignificant.

A water bottle gurgles when being filled and is silent after; thus the Mayavadis argue we should be. But, Srila Prabhupada said, 'Are we an inanimate water bottle? No. When we become spiritual, the real talking begins.'

If someone is a thief, he's nervous and hiding. Always anxious. Similarly, we are always anxious, because we are thieves - of Krsna's property. We think we are anxious because of something else, but really this is why.

Gurudeva said, 'To get taste, associate with someone who has taste.'

I have conviction that Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada walked right out of these paintings - windows to the spiritual world. Jadurani is the great great great grandmother of Krsna, of the Jadu dynasty. Jadu Krsna is opulent Krsna.

If we hear about Krsna's pastimes before having established that He is GOD, then we'll think the pastimes are imaginary or that they're just magnifestations of impersonal God.

The books are not the books. They are Krsna. They are the people who wrote/spoke the books. 

On falling from the brahmajyoti - Prabhupada said, "How can you fall from a place that is already fallen?"

We get frustrated in our relationships today because 1) we're not this body, made of pus, stool, blood, etc. hard to be attracted to 2) We are meant to have a relationship with Krsna.

I met Prabhupada and Gurudeva by his books, etc. Gurudeva said all of his books are supplementary and complementary to Srila Prabhupada's books. After he leaves, he said people will appreciate his books.

The material world is the shadow energy of Radha. Sound establishes our relationship with this world. Transcendental sound dissolves it."

Syamarani didi --- Siksastakam, reality --- Santa Cruz, 06/07/12

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 

June 7, 2012

Santa Cruz

Syamarani didi

 

"Hope against hope, even though there's no hope.

Take responsibility for what you're going through. 'O Krsna, you are my only friend.'

Krsna is in every atom. So is Radha. So is Gurudeva! He is in atoms, in pastimes, in all gayatri mantras and in his instructions, and he is present in others - comes through others.

He teaches us how to pray in the book Gauravani.

Thinking we're a general servant of Krsna is not enough to get us out of misery. Go for a specific identity as servant; manjaris of Radhika with specific services.

Syamasundara sikhanda sekhara is a prayer to the manjaris.

We are amnesiacs in an insane asylum. This is the medicine to get out. 

Sometimes Radhika forgets that She's met Krsna before. Sometimes when She gives Him a sidelong glance, He faints. This is how much She controls Him. We are actually Her maid servants. She thinks of Her manjaris as like Herself. This is our intimate relationship with Her. All these other things - "Oh, I have a headache, I'm cold," etc., - are insanity.

As we hear and picture Krsna, this is with material vision, but this is part of the process. We have high moods in us, they're just sleeping. When we sleep we dream crazy things. Our material stuff is all a dream.

The affection of this world is all a dream. I once said, what about godbrothers? Gurudeva said, can two jivas marry each other? [implied no.] Then I asked, what about two godbrothers? Gurudeva said, do you know [name]? Do you know [name]? [No. They are not this body.] This is the only way to go. This is reality.

What is the rasa of my constitutional form? That is the question. There is no other concern. Don't think you're the sweater.

Go through the spiritual motions - this is our CPR, our artificial breathing until we can actually breathe. When we practice, the mercy descends. 

We can keep our priorities straight and keep long term happiness over short term happiness by reading of the reality, chanting, hearing, honoring prasadam, praying, etc. PRACTICE."

O Nitai! Nitai! Nitai! His mercy...

emana nirghrna more keba krpa kare
eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Ädi-lila 5.205–207)

“I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even
lower than worms in stool. Anyone who hears my
name loses the results of his pious activities. Anyone
who utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this
world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such
an abominable person as me?”

as found in: The Rays of the Harmonist, no. 18, Kartik 2008

Syamarani didi --- Siksastakam, chanting --- Santa Cruz, June 6, 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

Syamarani didi
June 6, 2012
Santa Cruz

"Have a mood of appeal, grief-stricken appeal, when saying these prayers. We can make advancement like this every day. Gurudeva said, if we're not advancing, it is because of offenses. But that's not the end. We can pray even more because of it. And only Gurudeva can give us the mood of grief-stricken appeal. So even more reason to pray!

"ayi nanda tanuja...these phrases reveal how we can solve all problems. We must see leaving Krsna as the cause of all miseries. We think we are in control due to wicked hopes and misplaced anxieties. Instead we should only have anxiety for - 'I am not seeing Radha and Krsna.' Karma is the desire to enjoy the fruits of our actions. It is like trying to grab onto one straw while drowning.

"Force the mind to think positive affirmations - 'Please forgive my faults, because I am without shelter,' not, 'Gurudeva can't save me,' that's down the drain.

"Each phrase and word we say opens up a new world. We pray to be the manjaris, who can see Radha and Krsna in early morning, etc. Can untangle their hair, etc. Sakhis cannot do this.

"The tongue is the most dangerous of all the senses. Unless we control it, we can't chant. Why do we chant? To obtain the service of the lotus feet of Sri Radha. This is why we serve Krsna, pray to him, etc. Everything leads back to serving Sri Radha.

"By keeping the goal in mind, we can obtain it.

"Trying to control the mind is like trying to stop a tornado. But by constancy, practice and detachment, we can."

Syamarani didi - Santa Cruz, June 5, 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

Forgive me for being so tardy with these short hand notes from the 2012 womens' book distribution tour:

Syamarani didi
June 5, 2012
Santa Cruz

"Whatever we think will make us happy will actually make us miserable. As bubbles in the ocean are we; popping up for a moment before disappearing. The anticipated happiness goes as soon as we get it - SREYAS.

"Krsna climbs the trees, eats their fruits, they are his friends. Trees in the material world are suffering - wanted to stand naked, got bodies of trees.

"Being in the material world is like being a blind man in a maze. He is running his stick along the wall but stops to scratch an itch and misses the doorway out. Misusing our human life for material desires is like that man scratching his itch and getting lost again - 8,400,000 species of life.

"PREYAS - I'm holding out for long-term happiness.

"Various material attractions, and the senses' urges, are like the dingaling of an icecream truck. 'Come on, enjoy.' Human beings can't control the six senses, including the mind.

"Q: How to make chanting the holy name most effective?
A:
- the HOly Name is a person
- do not criticize
- only pray for spiritual things
- what we repeat and experience - tv, movies, etc. - becomes part of us. By repeatedly singing bhajans, etc., we get those good impressions.
- pray we destitute appeal and humility
- pray for the ecstatic symptoms you want when chanting
- Gurudeva is IN the holy name, because he is in the pastimes. Pray to him.
- Pray for service to Radha and Krsna.

"Q: How can we resist the urge for short-term happiness and hold out for long-term happiness?
A: When we practice, the mercy descends. Practice very diligently - reading, chanting, etc. These will make impressions."

"Thinking 'I am this body' is like thinking, 'I am a sweater. Now I'm being ironed. Now I'm in the tumble machine. Now I"m covered in list.' This is insane! Especially to those more advanced.

"Gurudeva tells his initiates to remember the power of chanting. No need to worry about anything. Krsna will protect you. As Srila Prabhupada said, "When you $100 problems are solved, your $10 problems are solved.'"

The instruction of guru is also guru

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 

"The instruction of guru is also guru. You'll get the mercy of the guru through his instructions. One who is very, very eager and very, very inquisitive will pray to his spiritual master, 'O spiritual master, you are not physically present, so I cannot understand. I am such an ignorant fol. I have no qualification. Though your instructions are there, I cannot understand what you have said. Please help me.'"

- Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja

"Vaidhi bhakti is not artificial"

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 

 

 

[Srila Narayan Gosvami Maharaja:] Vaidhi-bhakti is not artificial. If you pray, "Oh Krsna, please remove all my anarthas (bad thoughts and habits). Be pleased with me and give me pure bhakti," that is not artificial. And, if a devotee is engaging in sravanam (hearing Krsna's names and glories), kirtanam (chanting His names and glories), visnu smaranam (remembering Him), this is not artificial.

[Jaganatha dasa:] But in vaidhi-bhakti, sometimes one has to force himself to think and act properly.

[Srila Narayan Gosvami Maharaja:] No harm - this is practice. If your mind is not fixed in one-pointed devotion, then you must bring it back from the other places. You are hearing hari-katha - this is not artificial. You are performing kirtana - this is not artificial. You are worshiping - this is not artificial.

Source: Two Morning Walks

Don't be worried about your future

"Sincerely perform hari bhajana and serve Hari, guru, and vaisnavas. By doing so, you will never encounter any problem, but the moment you think of your own happiness, various types of problems will arise before you. Don't be worried about your future, because your spiritual guardians, sri guru and vaisnavas are worrying for that."

- Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja

Syamarani didi - Nirjala Ekadasi, Humility --- LA, May 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

  

More shorthand notes -

Syamarani didi
Nirjala Ekadasi
Humility
LA, May 2012

"We are being scorched due to indifference to Krsna. Indifference is solved by bhajan - reading about Krsna, hearing about Krsna, chanting, praying to Krsna, etc.

"Why should we be MORE insignificant than a blade of grass? Grass has natural ego; our ego related to our body is not natural, because we are not this body. It is illusion.

"A tree with no fruits and flowers still stands tall; a tree with fruits and flowers bends over. Similarly, a proud person with no good qualities stands tall. A humble person laden with good qualities bends over in humility.

"If we even correctly criticize someone - our criticizing comment is correct - we go where they are destined to go [for doing whatever bad thing you are criticizing them for.]

"Once, Gurudeva asked Damodara Maharaja, "Who is superior, you, or your stool?" Damodara Maharaja answered, "Me, of course." Gurudeva said, no, your stool is superior, because it can say, 'I was once a nice sweet of cake, but by association with you, I became stool.'

"Nirjala Ekadasi, Nirjala is God, not a day. Gurudeva said, 'If you have any defect in Ekadasi, chant, pray, weep.'

"Take carnamrta on Ekadasi. When doing acamana on Nirjala Ekadasi, only touch water to your lips, don't take any in. Even young boys in India follow Nirjala Ekadasi.

"Day before Nirjala Ekadasi, take no water and have only 1 meal.

"'Chant, and everything will be okay." - Gurudeva"

Syamarani didi - Gangamata Goswamini, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana --- Los Angeles, May 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 

Class by Syamarani didi; my shorthand notes -

Gangamata Goswamini
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana
LA, May 2012

"All of us ladies should follow Gangamata Goswamini. [Gurudeva said we should be like her, I remember.]

Gangamata Goswamini was a princess around the time of Srila Rupa Goswami. She wanted to marry only Krsna. She arrived in Vrndavana after Rupa, Sanatana had already left, when Ragunatha Goswami was still present. She was initiated by a Haridas Prabhu (not Haridas Thakura).

[Prabhupada spoke on the asta satvika bhavas during Syamarani didi's harinama initiation, saying they are our goal in chanting.]

"Haridas put Gangamata Goswamini - Sacidevi - at age 16, under the care of another lady disciple of his, who was 50 years old. He told her would supply her with nothing material. Sacidevi took only what she needed to maintain her life. She was very chaste. She recorded things from her Gurudeva in her heart.

"At age 50 she was told to go to Radha Kund. Her guardian lady passed on, so she went to her guru and asked him what she should do. He told her he would soon leave, and instructed her to go Puri to find the place of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and do bhajan.

"Many years later, after the Ganga flowed to her lotus feet, after a king and his associates took initiation from her, Gangamata Goswamini had them built a temple at the place of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Just see how guru and Krsna arrange all for us if we simply chant, preach, and do bhajan.

Srimati Gangamata Goswamini

"Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was born in Orissa by Chilka Lane. This is where Krsna and Balarama - Jagannath and Baladev - bought milk from an old lady on their way to fight for the king of Puri, and gave her Their rings [said to show them to the king who would come by later with his army; when the king discovered that, as he had prayed, Jagannath and Baladev would help him win the fight, he gave the old lady a palace.]

"Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was expert at vyakarana - Sanksrit grammar. He studied all Vedanta in Udupi. He went to Puri and there met Radha Damodara Prabhu, who came after Syamananda Prabhu and took initiation from him. Then he went to Vrndavana and took shelter of his siksa guru, Srila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

"He read all of Srila Jiva Goswami's Sandarbhas. He defeated many. Gurudeva wants us to be scholars.

"Gaudiya are in the Madhva line because Laxmi Tirtha gave diksa to Lord Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri.

"How can we practice defeating people [in spiritual debate] and giving classes? - give classes at colleges and events, repeat what you have heard in harikatha."

 Srila Vishvanath Cakravarti Thakura

Syamarani didi - Sri Siksastakam verse 2-3 - LA, 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 

 

Here are more of my notes from the 2012 Gaudiya Girls Tour with Syamarani didi:

"10 offenses to the Holy Name - Srila Prabhupada would discuss these at initiations and ask his disciples to recite them.

"All names of Krsna and His plenary portions are powerful, but the most direct ones are more powerful - Krsna, Govinda, versus Nrsingha, etc. The highest names of Krsna are the ones associated with Srimati Radhika.

"We have to become Prahlada, Gangamata Goswamini, etc. before we can be gopis. Ultimately we want to be gopis. We want Vraja Krsna, not Devakinandana.

"If we want something while chanting, nama will give us that thing and then go away - a person, money, etc. Nama is like a desire tree.

"'Samsara dukha jaladhau...

 O Caitanya Candra, I am drowning in the ocean of ignorance in a net, chained by wicked desires, getting bitten by the crocodiles of lust, anger, greed, etc. Please save me!

"If we are remembering this verse while chanting, this is good. Acknowledge that we can't control our minds.

"9th offense to the Holy Name - innocent and ignorant versus envious and aggressive. We do sankirtana for the ignorant. Prabhupada said, it's a risk we take for Mahaprabhu. Even if we are handing out Gopi Gitas; Prabhupada said, if they start thinking that Radha and Krsna are ordinary boy and girl, this is OK. It's a start.

"Innocent and ignorant won't make offenses when they read it. But WE can! We must pray to the pastime potency to protect us and to help us understand. Consciously guard against the 10 offenses. How can we become free from offenses? Chant more!

"How can you tell them Krsna is God, if you have no potency to convert them? Gurudeva has the potency.

"What we say to the people does not matter; they either have the sukriti or not.

"Gurudeva said, pray to whomever can help you while you are chanting.

"Make your japa and mantras priority - when you put small pebbles in a jar first, then the big rocks can't fit. But if you put the big rocks in first, and then the small pebbles, the little pebbles slide in-between the cracks and it all fits.

'If after this class you repeat what I'm saying, it will go in your heart. If not, it will not.'
- Srila Gurudeva

Srila Gurudeva and Syamarani didi

Hear, chant, study

Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Goswami Maharaja

“"You should attentively study the spiritual magazines.
As you get time you must study and discuss Kalyäna
kalpataru, Prarthanä, Caitanya-caritämrta, and so on. You
will be able to attain all perfection by offenselessly chanting .
Sri Näma reveals Himself when one hears, studies
and discusses sastra. The anarthas that you have at present
will not become prominent if you intensely perform
sravana and kirtana.”"

 - from "Association of Sadhus in the Form of Sastras" by Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Goswami Maharaja, Rays of the Harmonist, no. 9, Winter 2001

Jesus and book distribution - Syamarani didi - - - LA, May 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

Here is another one!

"If Jesus is actually a pure devotee, than he did not really die, so 'died for his sins,' actually he did not die. He only pretended to die. If Jesus were dead, why worship him anymore? He was resurrected after 3 days. Nowhere in the Bible does it truly say that Jesus died for his sins - that we can keep sinning while he keeps suffering.

"Similarly, 'thou shalt not kill,' etc., what does it mean to accept Jesus? It means to accept guru, accept his instructions. 

"Gurudeva said, the daksina he wants is gratitude.

"If Hindus say that they know everything already [when you try to distribute a book to them], tell them to give the book to their less fortunate friends, or that it is a new publication. Just keep going. It's for Gurudeva!

"This is anxiety-less book distribution. Don't be anxious for the money.

"For Sanskrit titles, tell them it is the oldest language in the world. Give them the meaning of the title in English, so it's more relate-able.

"'How to get high naturally from within without drugs' - line devotees used in the 60s

"Prabhupada said, even if they don't like the books, if they read it, that is smaranam, remembrance.

"Share verses with people you distribute to. Bhagya - van - that person who has all opulences...The names of Krsna that relate to Radha are most powerful because he is most complete with Her. Tell people names of Krsna and stories.

"Think of the people as eternal servants of Krsna, that they do know this [already] and can understand it.

"It is difficult to control the mind but by practice and detachment, you can."

Here's a video I found! Love it!

Srimati Syamarani didi and the Gangamatas

Sukriti and Book Distribution - Syamarani didi - - - LA, May 2012

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

Recently I went on a beautiful book distribution tour with Jadurani/Syamarani didi and a group of young women. We went all around California having blissful festivals in major cities like Los Angeles and Berkeley. Everywhere we were received very sweetly by devotees, and everywhere people were attracted to the spiritual gem literatures given by our vaisnava acaryas. Also Syamarani didi's posters of art, inspired from the hearts of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, were very popular.

I took some notes during the tour - Syamarani didi spoke on Sri Siksastakam for most of it - and would like to share them.

So here's the first of a series of Syamarani didi posts - my notes are very shorthand and may be difficult to understand. Please forgive me if they are!

Everything in brackets, [], is something she said about herself, so I put it in brackets so that it doesn't get confusing.

Syamarani didi

 

"evam vrtasah priyanarma krtyah...

One who has developed prema is always loving his Lord, dancing, crying, not caring for others. - mood of gopis. If in tune with this mood, then we can be in tune with all entities. We want to be in tune with all living entities. Book distribution is a way to do this.

"As a preacher your mindset changes. [When Syamarani didi does book distribution, all her experiences come into the forefront. She thinks of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is paintings.]

"People gather sukriti - pious credits - by inadvertently serving, too. For example, if someone lets Srila Gurudeva go first in line at the airport - then, they'll get a book, or hear the Hare Krsna mantra, or get a bonafide guru, and surrender to that guru. Even if someone appreciates what we are doing but does not take any book, that gets him sukriti.

"Gurudeva said, 'Keep giving sukriti.' By contact with us book distributors, people get it, and we give it.

"Once connected with Krsna Consciousness, we illuminate, like a light bulb connected to a powerhouse.

Gurudeva said, when you don't know whether your sari is on or off and you're rolling on the ground, then you'll be an effective preacher.

Make your heart one with the goswamis and your gurudeva.

Think of they benefit people are getting, not of yourself. Preach and distribute books for benefit of the humans and the animals. If the humans read these books they won't kill the animals.

Our preaching is like throwing a butterfly wing into a pond - not much ripple created. But if Gurudeva tells us to [preach, distribute books], his power goes with us. Gurudeva is with us making it all happen. He is the doer. 

Practically try to assess the needs of the person, ask them what they're interested in, if they have any questions. etc. 

Gurudeva is more powerful than Visvamitra Muni, Narada Muni, etc. He can come in another body. He can do anything. He is all merciful and his mercy is ever increasing."

Srila Gurudeva, ki JAI!!

"Sundara Bala Saci Dulala"

Sundara Bala Saci Dulala

 

(1)

sundara-bālā śacī-dulālā

nācata śrī-hari-kīrtana meń

bhāle candana tilaka manohara 

alakā śobhe kapolana meń

1) This gorgeous boy is the darling child of mother Saci, dancing in the kirtana of chanting Lord Hari’s names. His forehead is adorned with drawings of sandalwood paste, and His enchanting locks of hair are shining in a splendorous fashion as they bounce upon His cheeks.

(2)

śire cūḍā daraśi bāle

vana-phula-mālā hiyāpara dole

pahirana pīta-paṭāmbara śobhe 

nūpura ruṇu-jhunu caraṇo meń

 2) His hair is wrapped in a topknot, and a garland of forest flowers sways upon His chest. Wearing brilliant yellow silken garments, He dances with ankle bells tinkling upon His feet.

(3)

rādhā-kṛṣṇa eka tanu hai

nidhuvana-mājhe baḿśī bājāy

viśvarūpa ki prabhujī sahi 

āota prakaṭahi nadīyā meń

 3) Sri Sri Radha and Krsna have become joined in one body, and together They play a flute within the grove of Nidhuvana. In this mood, the Lord of Visvarupa has come and manifested Himself in the town of Nadiya.

(4)

koi gāyata hai rādhā-kṛṣṇa nām

koi gāyata hai hari-guṇa gān

mańgala-tāna mṛdańga rasāla 

bājata hai koi rańgaṇa meń

 4) Someone in that kirtana sings the names of Radha and Krsna, someone else sings songs of Lord Hari’s transcendental qualities, while others play the auspicious rhythms of the sweet and relishable mrdanga drums. All this takes place in that spectacular performance.

source link 

Srimati Radharani

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

A friend mailed me this beautiful excerpt from a book by Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja; here he is speaking on the brahma gayatri mantra, which women do not have (it makes women hard-hearted, but softens mens' hearts, I've read), still it is very beautiful and applicable to any meditation one is doing on Srimati Radharani:

"Radha-dasyam, the service of Srimati Radharani,
is the ultimate meaning to be extracted from the
gayatri mantra. That is the supreme end of our
life. It cannot but be so. Srimad-Bhagavatam is
the ultimate or full-fledged theism to be
extracted from the Vedas, Upanisads, and so
many scriptures. All the revealed truth rises to
its acme, to its highest position, in the
conception given by Srimad-Bhagavatam. And
Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches us that the highest
realization, self-determination, is the service of
Srimati Radharani - that under her guidance we
may serve Sri Krsna. We aspire for a direct
connection with her service.

"...The very gist of svarupa-sakti is
Srimati Radharani, and the whole svarupa-sakti
is her extended self. The town of her beautiful
service is the whole svarupa-sakti.
Just as rays of light extend from the sun, the
whole internal potency is an extension of
Mahabhava, Sri Radhika. She has developed
herself into such a beautiful area of brilliance, of
internal energy, and thereby she serves her Lord.
All these necessary things have sprung from her.

"To help her in serving her Lord, they all come out.
When the entire internal energy is condensed in a
concise form, it is Mahabhava, Radharani. And
when Radharani wants to serve, she extends
herself in limitless different ways. And with
some contribution from Baladeva and Yogamaya,
the whole spiritual world, including Vrndavana,
Mathura, and Vaikuntha, evolves to assist Srimati
Radharani in the service of Sri Krsna."

Srila Vrndavana das Thakur ki jai!

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

the deities of Srila Vrndavana das Thakur

Here is a link to a sweet biography of Srila Vrndavana das Thakur: Sri Vrndavana das Thakur

Srila Vrndavana das Thakur was the last disciple of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Jai! He wrote the Caitanya Bhagavata,, and beautiful, beautiful songs, one of which is the following, Jaya Jaya Nityananda Rohini Kumar:

(1)

jaya jaya nityananda rohini-kumara

patita uddhara lagi su-bahu pasara

(2)

gada gada madhura madhura adha bola

pare dekhe gare preme dhari deya khola

(3)

dagamaga locana ghoraye nirantara

sonara kamale yena phiraye bhramara

(4)

dayara thakura nita-i para duhkha jane

hari-namera mala ganthi dila jane jane

(5)

papi pasandi yata karila dalane

dina hina jane kaila prema bitarane

(6)

aha re gauranga bali pade bhumi-tale

sarira bhijila nita-ira nayanera jale

(7)

brndabana dasa mane e-i bicarila

dharani upare kiba sumeru padila

(1) Glory, glory to Lord Nityananda. He is Lord Balarama Himself. To deliver the fallen sinners He extends His two arms.

(2) His half words spoken in a choked voice are the sweetest nectar. Whomever He sees He hugs in the ecstasy of spiritual love.

(3) His eyes are always restless. They are like two black bees flying among golden lotus flowers.

(4) Lord Nitai is the master of mercy. Seeing the people tormented by troubles, He strings for them a necklace of Lord Hari’s holy names. To person after person He gives that necklace.

(5) The arrogant blasphemers and sinners He rips into shreds. To the poor fallen people He gives the gift of ecstatic spiritual love.

(6) Calling out, “O! O Gauranga!”, He falls to the ground. His whole body is soaked with tears.

(7) In his heart Vrndavana dasa thinks: Now Lord Nityananda is like a golden Mount Sumeru fallen to the ground.

Here is a video of Srila Gurudeva in Sridham Mayapura glorifying Sri Vrndavana das Thakur:

Srila Gurudeva glorifies Sri Vrndavana das Thakur

"If you want to do anything good to the world, talk about Krsna."

“If you want to do anything good to the world, talk about Krsna. Try to distribute Him— - He who can compensate for all other alternatives. Only try to distribute that central, absolute thing to help the people and the environment, and don'’t have any other sort of duty.

"Only try to distribute this teaching of sarva-dharmän parityajya, mäm ekam saranam vraja to whomever you meet. If you want to do good to others, only give this highest thing. Engage yourself in this way and you will become more and more confirmed in your position, and so many others will be benefitted. No other more holy duty than this can be there."

- Srila BR Sridhar Maharaja, commenting on CC Madhya 7.128
From The Rays of the Harmonist no. 9, Winter 2001

"I am not a servant of A, B, C, or D. I am a servant of Mahaprabhu."

"I am not a servant of A, B, C, or D. I am a servant of Mahaprabhu. I may have to turn this way or that way, or whatever way will be favorable to reach my Lord. Wherever I feel the presence of my Lord in an intense form, I must be attracted to that side. We are out for that thing, and not for any fashion or formality; that will hamper our cause.

"Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja. Wherever we  shall find him, we must run in that direction. The direction may not be always straight. It may go in a zigzag way, but if Krsna comes from that side, I must run there. Again if he appears on this side, I must run to this side. My interest is with him. Not that we can challenge, "Why did Krsna appear here, and why is he appearing there? That may be a doubtful thing, so I must stay on this side." No. If I have genuine appreciation for the real thing, the proper thing, I must go to that side, the side of Krsna."

[ Sri Guru and His Grace, p. 108, Copyright @1983, by Gaurdian of Devotion Press]

"Your life should be given to Krsna"

"Initiation alone will not do. Practically follow all of my instructions. Merely taking initiation but not following is not sufficient. Positively follow and you will see that, atma samprasidyati, your soul will always be happy. No obstruction will come.

"We should strongly accept that which is favorable for bhakti and we should at once reject that which is unfavorable. Then progress will be made.

"Your life should be given to Krsna. Go on chanting and remembering. Be satisfied with whatever Krsna is doing."

Sri Gadadhara Pandita

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

From Sri Gadadharastakam by Srila Svarupa Damodara Goswami:

"That personality who eternally wanders in Vraja while
playfully performing Her own loving devotional service,
(in other words, Sri Rädhä, who is non-different from Sri Gadädhara Prabhu) is the chief among the beloved
damsels of Sri Hari. As the foremost of the beloved
associates of the son of Saci (in other words, Sri Gadädhara Prabhu), he reveals the process of service to Sri Rädhä and Krsna. I worship that magnanimous, exalted
Pandita and Guru, Sri Gadädhara Prabhu."

Sri Gaura Gadadhara

Please accept my apologies for strange typos; I got this from The Rays of the Harmonist, no. 9, Winter 2001, which you can download in its entirety at www.purebhakti.com by searching 'gadadhara': 

"One day, after hearing Srimad-Bhägavatam,
Mahäprabhu was sitting on the sand here at Cataka-parvata,
which He considered to be Govardhana. He told
Gadädhara Pandita, ’Gadädhara, I want to give you my
most valuable property. Will you accept it?’ When
Gadädhara Pandita agreed, Mahäprabhu said, ’This is the
property of My heart.’ He began removing the sand and
said, ’My präna-dhana is here.’ In the mood of Srimati
Rädhikä, He exposed Gopinätha’s head and crown, and
others then began to help reveal His form. Mahäprabhu
then requested Sri Gadädhara Pandita, ’You should take
Him and serve Him throughout your life.’

"Gadädhara Pandita is always serving Krsna. In krsnalila,

Srimati Rädhikä always satisfies Krsna more than

Candrävali, Lalitä, Visäkha, and others.
Her whole mood is to satisfy
Krsna. In mahäprabhu-lila, because Krsna wants to taste
Himself, He takes Rädhikä’s mood, and She responds
accordingly: ’He wants that, so I should not disturb Him.
If I help Him in this, this will be my service.’ Do you
understand?

"When Mahäprabhu was calling, ‘Krsna! Krsna! O
Pränanätha!’ Rädhikä was there, but as an obedient servant.
She was in a daksina (submissive) mood. The relationship
of däsa is always in a daksina mood. Sri
Gadädhara Pandita was even more daksina than Rukmini.
Rukmini sometimes had some mäna (transcendental loving
anger), but Sri Gadädhara Pandita was not like that.
If he had been in a vämya (left-wing or unsubmissive)
mood, it would have been unfavourable to the mood of
Krsna as Mahäprabhu. Gadädhara Pandita was always
thinking, ’I am His servant.’ If he had said, ’My dear
Krsna, my dear beloved’, Mahäprabhu’s mood would have
been disturbed.

"This was also true in Navadvipa. At that time Gauräìga
was also calling out, ‘Krsna, Krsna!’ not, ‘Rädhe, Rädhe!’
But at that time He was untrained; He had not yet been
admitted into the school of Visäkhä, Sri Räya Rämänanda.
At that time also, Gadädhara Pandita always served as an
obedient servant, covering all his moods as Srimati
Rädhikä. And he is in the same mood in nitya Navadvipadh
äma. He is never nägari in mahäprabhu-lilä."

Sri Gadadhara Pandita ki jai!! May he rain his mercy on us all!

"Never are you alone"

 om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

"Krsna and Guru are in your heart, so don't feel this - that I am alone. Never are you alone; He who has created you is always with you."

- HDG Srila BV Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

Memories from 2007

 om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."


I found some notes I took in 2007 on the first day of the New Braj (Badger) festival. Srila Gurudeva asked the devotees to speak on this question: "Why do pure devotees travel all over the world?"

Following are some of the things they said. I hope it is okay that I share who spoke what:

Gopanandini didi: "Gurudeva can hear our hearts. What kind of ears the pure devotees must have, to hear our hearts crying out."

Nirguna prabhu: "Prabhupada had an arsenal of weapons [for preaching and spreading Krsna consciousness]. First, the books, more books, and then the final weapon - the brahmastra weapon - Srila Gurudeva!"

Sravana prabhu: "We are very fortunate to be here. Some people come and think it's vacation - seven days off of work. But this is not vacation; this is where the work begins! We are so fallen that we have sadhu-sanga available, but are still entangled in maya and material life. So the pure devotee comes to us, since we will not go to him."

Sripad BV Niskincana Maharaja (Brajendranandana prabhu): "I am mad, I am bad, I am sad. I hope you make me glad!"

Spiritual Greed

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

Quote:

"If there is no greed, then yukti, or logical argument, will influence our
consideration as to whether we should, or should not, pray
for this attainment. If there is greed, no reasoning is needed.
Our rāgānuga-sādhana will be kept very sacred and secret, and
we will desire to meet with those persons who have a keen
interest in such sādhana. We will not discuss these topics with
anyone else.

"At that time there will be no need for sastric yukti; no need
to become convinced by sastric reasoning or logic. Suppose a
man loves a lady, or a lady loves a man. There is no reason why
the lady loves that man; she simply saw him and fell in love
with him. Greed is like that.

"We should try to perform vaidhī-bhakti always, thinking,
'I am performing vaidhī-bhakti by the grace of Ƙṛṣṇa, who is
so merciful.' Greed will come later on. The practices of both
are one; there is no difference. Some difference is there, but
no real difference.

"If a blind man prays for something, there is no harm in
that. 'I want to be in Vṛndāvana.' What harm is there in such
desire? 'I want to serve my Gurudeva in transcendental Goloka
Vṛndāvana.' There is no harm in this desire. We should avoid
thinking, 'I am a gopī, a mañjarī. I am doing this and that
service.' We are not qualified to go there, so we pray for that
qualification."

- Srila Gurudeva in Raga-vartma-chandrika

a little poem

I bow my head before the Lord
Who holds aloft a mighty sword
The sword, Sri Guru, brings us light
To carry us throughout the night

Saved from monsters by our dear friend
We know that dark will come to end
Just hold on to Sri Guru tight
And then you will survive the fight

No more spinning in birth and death
No more, "Hi, my name is Beth"
We are all das, servant, soul
Pure love of Godhead is our goal

I bow my head before the Lord
praying to Him to get closer toward
The end of suffering - the light!
The bliss and love, the end of night

Glories to that Holiest Name
Glories to they who spread His fame
Glories to Hope, and Love, and Light
Glories to He, seen by true sight

Happiness

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."


Here is a beautiful Gurudeva picture along with a quote:

"In this world we see that if I make happy those who are very close to me, then only I am happy. But these relationships are self-centered and by self-interest we do not get any satisfaction. But real satisfaction will come, like Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura is saying [in his Saranagati, 'amara bolite prabhu! are kichu nai...], if you are trying to please Nityananda Prabhu and to please Krsna and Srimati Radhika - then, Their pleasure automatically brings you happiness."

Dearest Krishna

Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Goswami Maharaja

"There is no difficulty in the worship of Sri Krishna, as He is nearest and dearest. He is residing within our hearts. He is seeing everything. If we sincerely desire to serve Him, He will surely help us. He does not see mundane merits. He sees the sincerity of our hearts, whether we actually want Him or not. One who sincerely wants Him, will surely get Him. You submit all your prayers to Him sincerely. He will fulfill your desires."

Self-forgetfulness

Less today, sorry! Will edit later.



Quick quote post:

"What is love?
That sacrifice that service is rewarded by more intense hankering for service.
A self-giving attitude. That is the remuneration. It will be increased in us more and more. Your serving tendency will be increased if you work as a slave. The appreciation of slavery will be more intensely at His disposal.

Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja

"Self-forgetfulness is of a dynamic characer. Self-forgetfulness in totality demands self-forgetfulness. Then we shall be able to feel the deepest plane; the flow of the deepest plane; that plane of the Autocrat within us.

"Our present ego will not allow us to go to the deeper plane, the most fundamental plane of the irresistible flow. It is so subtle, so sweet, and we can go, we can reach that destination. Nothing can oppose us. We can attain that fundamental flow. Self-forgetfulness is of such dynamic character!"

by Srila Bhakti-Rakshak Sriadhar Maharaja

from Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Volume 5: Poetry of a Saint

The senses of the one, non-dual Supreme Truth; Praying for worthiness to serve

"The ultimate object of our desires is to become specks of dust at the lotus feet of the followers of Sri Rupa Goswami.
Remain united in following the asraya-vigraha, in order to satisfy the transcendental senses of the one, non-dual Supreme Truth...
May we never under any circumstances becomes indifferent to the seven-tongued sacrificial flame of the Holy Name.
If our attraction to it remains ever-increasing, we will achieve all perfection."

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

"We pray that our commitment to these last instructions of his manifest presence in this world may be unfailing. May we never interpret these words to elicit secondary meanings that allow us to engage in sense gratification, but rather, single-mindedly dedicating all our energies and working together aim for the pleasure of 'the senses of the one, non-dual Supreme Truth,' making it the one and only goal of our lives. If we wish to show our love and faith for our spiritual master, it will be by following these teachings."

- Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaja

"...My most worshipable Gurudeva...did not see the faults in anyone; he was most compassionate. We who aspire to become the servants of his servants and to partake of the remnants of his plate, pray to him with all the sincerity at our command that by his causeless mercy he will give us the worthiness to serve him. We pray to him to please make our hearts simple and free from deception; may he forgive us of our offenses, and consider us the servants of his servants, birth after birth. May he free us from the aversions of this world and keep us fixed in service to his lotus feet."

- Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaja

"We are in a prison - we must make all efforts to free ourselves."

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."


Again, apologies for being so terrible at updating this blog. This blog is one of my favorite things to do; one of my favorite ways to engage my mind in Krsna consciousness and in beautiful harikatha. Yet as of late I am not being strict on making time to do it. As of now, I will be stricter.

The following is an excerpt from a class given by Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja [pictured below, within excerpt], on 12 December 1998 Sri Madhav Jiu Gaudiya Math; you can find it in Volume 4, Gaur Purnima issue, of the 2000 edition of Vishva-Vaisnava-Raj-Sabha magazine.

This article/class was SO beautiful, I wish I could put the entire thing in here!

Self Imprisonment

"Right from our birth till our death all the education that we receive, all the experience that we gain, all of them are of a perishable nature. The knowledge we receive helps us somehow to live our lives in this world. In brief, it helps us to find food, to find some clothing, to get a roof.

"That there is a world beyond all this, apart from this, that we are not trained to think about. Why? Just as this world exists, there must also exist the other world. Why don't we learn to think about this other world? Are we destined to remain satisfied with our eating, our wearing clothes and our finding a roof over our heads in this world? Is there nothing else for us to do?

"Our scriptures ask these questions. And our scriptures give the answers.

"We all are saying, 'Oh, we are fine. Why do we want to hear about Krsna or any other such names?' I am amazed at such talk. We do not need to be in this error all the time. If we can understand from our gurus, from Vaisnavas, from sadhus or from the scriptures that we are in a foreign land - we are in a prison - hen we must make all effort to free ourselves.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja

"Yet the influence of jada-maya is so great that instead of trying to free ourselves, we want to continue in this prison! A very old jailbird has been released from the prison, but he does not want to go. He turns to all the other thieves, dacoits and ruffians who are there in the prison, and cries out, 'I don't want to go, leaving you here.'

"He does not understand that his real life is outside. He is crying to come back to the prison. Then, even when he is forced to go outside, he will vow to return. 'I'll come back here, if necessary I will again commit the crime of theft...so that I will come back to the prison.'

"This is our situation also. We do not understand what is good and what is bad. Our imprisoned status we consider to be a very good status. The status of peace and happiness. When the Lord has created us as human beings then we must establish our humanity. We must live as human beings. How do we live as human beings? By doing proper deeds as befits human beings.

"...If I want to come away from devotion, then I may live in this world but I do not show that I am a human being. It can not be proven that I am a human being. This is what the Lord Himself has said.

"...We don't have to toil too much. Why? Because those who know more than us, they have already gone through the ocean of the scriptures and from there they have taken out the cream for us...Do not keep yourselves tied down to the search for food, clothing, and a roof."