MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

JANUARY 2020

How Affection Develops
"Actually, some things come from sukriti, some things come from association, and some things like love and affection come through seeing others' example. It is similar to how love and affection comes within a family..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 3 July 2013)

Frustrated Journey
"We must understand what is our main conception and what is our real goal. We must be careful and we must try to remove any material attachment to this world as soon as it comes otherwise some attachment can come and we will not be able to follow our heart..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 3 July 2013)

Preaching Programme
(30 December 2019 | 14 photographs, 1.2 Mb)
Photographs from a Vaishnav-seva preaching programme attended by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj recently for the eternal benefit of the assembled souls.

Harmonising the Ego
"When I joined the mission and Gurudev gave me service, he told me first to guard the goshala and then to be the night guard of the temple. If I have ego, I will think, "Oh, what for have I come here? To be a security guard?" But I harmonised with myself..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 3 July 2013)

Online Programme: Singapore
(1 January 2020 | 5 photographs, 0.4 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj grants devotees from Singapore his holy darshan bestowing his causeless mercy and nourishing Hari-katha.

Useless Independence
"We always say, 'Krishna takes care of me,' 'Krishna will certainly protect us'—but at the same time we always live independent. We always think that we can protect ourselves. That is false. We must understand and believe that only Krishna can protect us."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 4 July 2013)

Unconditional Service
"I promised to the Lord to serve Him, but I had forgotten about it because of the illusory environment. My guru has come to me, reminded me of it—I must surrender to him and he will engage me in the service of the Lord. That is called unconditional service."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 4 July 2013)

Preaching Programmes in Vijayawada
(2-3 January 2020 | 22 photographs, 1.6 Mb)
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj graces the devotees and all fortunate souls by once again placing his holy lotus feet on the land of Vijayawada to carry the divine banner of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to every heart, nook and cranny of this world. Sharing photographs from the first two days of the four-day preaching tour of His Divine Grace.

Chaste Journey
"Everybody knows what my message is, everybody knows what I want from them. I want everyone to protect Gurudev's mission, to help protect Gurudev's mission—I want everyone not to go their own way but stay in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's boat."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 4 July 2013)

Preaching Programmes in Vijayawada
(4-5 January 2020 | 21 photographs, 1.5 Mb)
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj continues the South Indian preaching tour and attends several preaching programmes hosted or organised by the devotees. Sharing photographs from the last two days of the tour.

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• Yogini Ekadasi
• Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service

Main Teaching
"If you are humble, tolerant and give honour to others, then you can easily conquer devotees' hearts. In this age of Kali, people will not easily take to Krishna consciousness, but if you are humble and you have tolerance, it is good for you."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 20 July 2013)

Preaching Programmes in Vijayawada
(6 January 2020 | 7 photographs, 0.6 Mb)
Photographs from the last day in Vijayawada before His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj returns to West Bengal to continue the preaching programmes and preparations to the forthcoming festivals.

Danda-Bhangi Pastime
"Nityananda Prabhu says, 'If Mahaprabhu takes sannyas, why must He take the eka-danda sannyas? He can take tridanda-sannyas! If He has to teach others, He must give full teaching. Why will He take eka-danda sannyas?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 20 July 2013)

Fighting Material Desires
"If you have even a little bit of desire for this world, it will be very difficult for you to get to the transcendental world. If you still have some material desire, you must remove it. But the question is how you can do it."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 20 July 2013)

Do Not Delay
"Those who say that they will practise Krishna consciousness when they retire are actually cheating Lord Krishna. When a representative of the Lord comes to you, do not lose time. Take initiation, surrender and take shelter of the Lord through the guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 3 January 2020)

Golden Opportunity
"Krishna has given us this opportunity, we must not wait for a long time. The Lord's representative has come to us to tell us what is necessary for our spiritual life. If you want to get love and affection of your Gurudev, follow Gurudev's instruction with chastity."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 3 January 2020)

Joy of Sankirtan
"Chanting the Holy Name in good association is the highest attainment in this age of Kali. Through chanting the Holy Name we can get the highest service of the Lord and the Lord's associate. You must think and realise one thing perfectly..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 3 January 2020)

Journey to Ganga Sagar
(11 January 2020 | 24 photographs, 2 Mb)
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes the devotees on a memorable and happy journey to Sri Ganga Sagar Festival on a boat down the Ganges. Following the six-hour journey, everyone arrives happily at the temple.

Uluberia: Construction Progress
(11 January 2020 | 12 photographs, 1.4 Mb)
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a brief visit to Uluberia to check on the ongoing construction of the new temple and give further instructions to the workers.

Sri Ganga Sagar Festival (Day One)
(12 January 2020 | 29 photographs, 1.9 Mb)
The first day in Sri Ganga Sagar passes happily in various services and nourishing Hari-katha. Fortunate devotees spend the day in the shelter and guidance of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj engaging in various devotional activities throughout the day.

The Pain of Broken Hearts
"We always remember Srimati Radharani, Her associates and other Vraja gopis, but we forget about Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yasomati. It has come out of Radharani's mouth: 'We do not consider our heart's pain, but when we see Mother Yasoda's face and Mother Yasoda's situation without Your presence, our heart is breaking after breaking after breaking.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (9.2 Mb, 36 min | 14 June 2007)

Our Dear and Near
"You must understand who your real relative is. Krishna is your real relative, and Krishna will not leave you. If you chant His Holy Name, if you remember Him, He will always help you, He will always support you. It is necessary to have the strongest faith."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 3 January 2020)

In honour of Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti Chandan's disappearance:

Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti Chandan [GaudiyaDarshan.com]
"...He was a senior man, he was very experienced and honourable, but he treated me with humility and all his other good qualities. Later, I was his servant for one month in Vrindavan. Sometimes Srila Guru Maharaj told me, 'In the evening, give him a garland.' Guru Maharaj gave him the title 'Bhakti Chandan'."

In Remembrance of Sri Bhakti Chandan Prabhu [GaudiyaDarshan.com]
"Today, being separated from the direct affection of Srimat Yadavendu Bhakti Chandan Prabhu, we are bearing jewel-less hearts. Personally, I received so much of his auspicious association. When we have teeth, we do not understand their value. Today, if I could meet him again, then, just by getting a touch of his good association, I would attain even greater good fortune."

Uncompromising Chastity
"This is an example for you all. This is a lesson for you all. You must have chastity for your Guru. Chastity is the main thing. Everybody has a guru, but not everybody has proper chastity to their guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 3 January 2020)

Monthly Preaching in Malaysia
(14 January 2020 | 17 photographs, 1.5 Mb)
To support and spread the mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Malaysia, devotees participate in monthly preaching programmes in downtown Petaling Jaya (Kuala Lumpur). Sharing photographs from the latest event.

In honour of Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas:

Sannyas Lila: Roaming the Land
"Mahaprabhu would go in a zigzag way—sometimes He went to the East, sometimes to the West, and the devotees followed Him not knowing where He was going..."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.5 Mb, 25 min)

Sri Nimai Sannyas (English, Bengali, an audio recording)
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's poem expressing the grief-stricken hearts of the residents of Nabadwip: "Vishvambhar, the son of Jagannath Mishra, who resides in Nabadwip, Sachi's Nimai, has taken sannyas. A tumult of cries filled the sky—Sachi's Nimai has taken sannyas!"

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA : Chapter Eleven: Sri Champa Hatta
"When Laksman Sen was the king of Nadia, Jayadev Goswami was one of His subjects in Nabadwip. The wise Jayadev built a cottage on the bank of Ballal Dirghika and resided there with his wife Padmavati...."

Hijacked Souls
"We are very fortunate because we were born in India and we can freely chant the Holy Name, but in many countries there are restrictions against following the religion of this culture, but they still secretly practise Krishna consciousness properly."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.8 Mb, 12 min | 3 January 2020 | incl. Kirtan)

In honour of Srila Lochan Das Thakur:

• SONG: Ei-bara karuna kara | এইবার করুণা কর
"O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. O saviour of the fallen, without you there is no one. In every birth I aspire for the dust of your feet."

• SONG: Dhana mora nityananda | ধন মোর নিত্যানন্দ
"The feet dust of the Vaishnavs is where I sport and take bath, Vaishnavs' name is the water oblation. My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated hearing the name of Vaishnavs."

Composed by Srila Lochan Das Thakur:

• SONG: Akrodha paramananda | অক্রোধ পরমানন্দ
"The anger-less, prideless, supremely joyful Nityananda Ray wanders throughout the towns. Going from door to door to the homes of the lowly and fallen souls, He distributes the Hare Krsna mahamantra."

• SONG: Nitai gunamani amara | নিতাই গুণমণি আমার
"Nitai, the jewel of all good qualities, my Nitai, the jewel of all good qualities, brought a flood of divine love and inundated the earth. Lochan Das says, 'Anyone who did not serve Nitai knowingly committed suicide.'"

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ পহুঁ দুই জন
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords, the crest-jewels of all Avatars, the only source of joy. 'Fallen into samsara, I never aspired for Their feet. Now Yamaraj subjects me to my karma,' says Lochan Das."

• SONG: Ke yabi ke yabi bhai | কে যাবি কে যাবি ভাই
"The Lord's Names are the ferryboat, Sri Guru is the captain, and the outstretched arms in the sankirtan are the oars. All souls have been delivered by the winds of divine love, only Lochan Das has remained behind..."

Keep Sankirtan Fire Ablaze
"Sometimes you think that there are only very few of you devotees here, but you must start the fire, and the wind will come. If you engage yourself in sankirtan-yajna, you can make Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu happy through that."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 3 min | 4 January 2020)

Sacrifice Your Life
"People will not listen to you because they have too much attachment to materialist life—they cannot sacrifice anything; but you must sacrifice your life for your guru, Vaishnavs and Bhagavan. That is called surrender."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.9 Mb, 2 min | 4 January 2020)

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• Yogini Ekadasi
• Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service

Leave Maya's Service
"Maya Devi is so strong—you have so much material attachment. This is why you cannot join, you cannot come to service plane—you are not taking advantage of this greatest, highest service opportunity."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 4 January 2020)

Before Too Late
"When you have teeth, you have to take care of your teeth; what your teeth are gone, you will not be able to eat properly. When you have a guru, the guru gives everything to you, but when you reject him and do not follow his instruction, then you will repent and think."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 2 min | 4 January 2020)

Sincere Service Mood
"Krishna Himself says, 'I do not take anything from a non-devotee's hand. If My devotee gives Me something with devotion, that is sufficient for Me.' You can be doing something external, but it may not be service—you must serve with heart."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 4 January 2020)

Please remember:

Proceed and Increase
"I am inviting all devotees to come to Nabadwip to see any festival or for the Gaura Purnima festival. Come as soon as possible; as much as it is in my power, as much as I can help anyone, I will try. Please come to Nabadwip."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 17 June 2001)

Practise. Serve. Believe.
"Come. Come for Gaura Purnima, come for the parikrama of Virachandrapur in February. Mahaprabhu went there, Nityananda Prabhu came there to take the darshan of Mahaprabhu, and His mercy is unlimited. When you do parikrama of the Holy Dham, your parikrama of the material world comes to an end, you will not have to come back." (11 December 2011)

Knock, Knock! (Ahvana Poem)
"Who is your friend? Your friend has come to your house as a beggar and prays to you, 'Please chant the Name of Krishna! Come with us!' Just like a beggar he comes to you, but you cannot recognise him."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 28 February 2012)

"I am touching your feet—please come!"
"Gurudev says, 'I am folding my hands, I am touching your feet—please come at Gaura Purnima!' How many more times will you come to this world? Those who do this Nabadwip Dham parikrama with devotees do no have to wander any longer in these three worlds."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 28 February 2012)

Come to your home
"I pray to you all that you come every year. You may think, 'How will the money come?' But if you have a strong desire, Mahaprabhu will send you the money to come here." (9 March 2012)

Strike While the Iron Is Hot
"You think, 'I will chant the Holy Name tomorrow—I will wait today, and from tomorrow I will start.' Are you sure you are going to be in this world tomorrow?"
• Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 12 min | 26 May 2015)

Come with Us
"The Harinam is extremely powerful in this age of Kali—chanting the Holy Name is the only way we can get to our real home. Those who can do Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama in good association of devotees and chanting the Holy Name are very fortunate souls."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 5 min | 4 January 2020)

"I Am Saranga's Murari!"
"Remembering the last day of Nabadwip Dham parikrama, I want to tell you some very important thing. We always glorify Mamgachhi (Modadrumdwip) and speak about the birthplace of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, but there is also one small temple beside it..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 4 January 2020)

Visiting Sri Kadigachha and Betur Temples
(22 January 2020 | 16 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a visit to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math branches in Kadigachha (Bardman) and Betur (Bankura) to see to the temple maintenance.

Starting Rice Collection
(23 & 25 January 2020 | 37 photographs, 1.5 Mb)
Continuing the annual service to the Mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj commences this year's rice collection for the upcoming festivals. Sharing photographs from the first two days.

Not Just Words
"I will tell you another pastime of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chanting the Holy Name. The Holy Name is not only some letters. This Hare Krishna maha-mantra is pure, and this pastime is the evidence of that."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 4 January 2020)

Preaching Programme
(26 January 2020 | 19 photographs, 1.8 Mb)
Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends a preaching programme in the Hooghly district, much to the joy of the devotees who receive the darshan of His Divine Grace and an opportunity to serve Vaishnavs.

Purity of Heart
"Only a only bona fide guru, who descends from Goloka Vrindavan, an associate of the Lord, can distribute this Holy Name in this world—if you take initiation from such guru, you can get real benefit in your spiritual life. But it is necessary to be a real devotee."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 3 min | 4 January 2020)

Run After Devotion, Not Visaya
"We say we want devotion, but at the same time we want this, that, we want a house, we want opulence, etc.—Krishna will give everything to you, 'Here, take it!' but you will not get pure devotion..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 4 January 2020)

(Day One) (1 Mb)

—{ Preaching in Basirhat }— Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj continues the annual preaching programme of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in West Bengal and attends an extensive two-day programme in Basirhat, North 24 Parganas. Photographs taken on 27 and 28 January 2020.

(Day Two) (2.1 Mb)

Surrendered Service
"I see that how much you try to make me happy. You are giving everything you have—man, buddhi, anankar (mind, intelligence, ego)—to the Lord, to their guru. That is called surrender mood. You give everything you have for the service of the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 5 January 2020)

Preaching in Basirhat (Day Three)
(29 January 2020 | 15 photographs, 1.3 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj continues preaching programme in Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, and attends two more programmes, at noon and in the evening, incessantly nourishing the fortunate devotees with Hari-katha and Sri Upadesh.

Preaching Programme in Uluberia
(30 January 2020 | 9 photographs, 0.9 Mb)
The next leg of the annual West Bengal preaching takes His Divine Grace to Uluberia where devotees lovingly host a large Vaishnav seva programme for the benefit of all jiva souls.

In Honour of Sri Vasanta Panchami:

Seva Opportunity
"You must practise properly. I am also inviting you all to our temple. I have told you—I am giving you an opportunity to serve. Actually, it is very hard to get there—you cannot serve big things with little sukriti."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 5 January 2020)

 · · • • • · ·

2020

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