Service to Gurudev's Mission
"Gurudev told his opinion, told to follow his instruction, and if you do not follow it, then whatever glorification you make it will not give any relief to Gurudev. If you want to help Gurudev's mission, then you must follow his instruction."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 13 October 2018)

• INNER FULFILLMENT •

(5) A Labor of Love
'You are at present in an adulterated conception of your own life. The mind, intelligence and exploiting energies of different kinds are all adulteration. So, all kinds of adulteration will be eliminated from your existence. When your existence is purified, your real self within will come out in its pristine glory, and you will find that you have a happy devotional connection with the Supersoul.'

Choose Your Association Wisely
"We should be careful with our association—we must always reject bad association because it can remove us from the spiritual service. We must see who gives a good instruction, who follows Gurudev's instruction and gives Gurudev's conception properly."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 11 min | 13 October 2018)

• INNER FULFILLMENT •

(6) Homeward Bound
'It is easy, and it is also difficult. It is easy because it is our inborn tendency, it is our home, and we will not find satisfaction anywhere else, so we must go there and there is hope that we may reach there one day. But the difficulty is that we are far away from that home comfort now, we have lost that land.'

Proper Adjustment
"We cannot understand properly what is necessary for our spiritual life because we are always attacked by the illusory environment—we work under Maya, and Maya always tries to remove us from our service: we always think about kanak, kamini, pratistha."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 14 October 2018)

• INNER FULFILLMENT •

(7) The Land of Beauty
'It is easy, and it is also difficult. It is easy because it is our inborn tendency, it is our home, and we will not find satisfaction anywhere else, so we must go there and there is hope that we may reach there one day. But the difficulty is that we are far away from that home comfort now, we have lost that land.'

Epilogue: The Key to it All
'It is not fixed where you will be carried after death by the current of your previous karma; therefore, try make best use of whatever time is available to you before your death. You have freewill, so the days before your death are, to some degree, in your hand to use: use this time with the utmost care for God realization. There is nothing as important for all of us as this.'

In honour of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

devam divya-tanum suchhanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

"I worship Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the bestower of all auspiciousness, my only shelter and the master of all renunciates. He is my Lord who possesses a transcendental form, whose face expression is very grave, who is clad in the holy clothes the colour of the newly risen sun. He is an abode of intense joy; the only genuine master whom one can accept and surrender to; and an ocean of divine knowledge and renunciation. He is a repository of holy scriptural teachings and pastimes of the highest devotion and a dear follower of Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad."

What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions
"To explain to this world what Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, what its purpose, preaching matter or distinctions are, is an extremely difficult task, but it is even more difficult to make those who are engrossed in and inspired by the commonplace ideas appreciate it even partially..."

শ্রীচৈতন্য সারস্বত মঠ কি ও তাঁর বৈশিষ্ট্য
শ্রীচৈতন্য সারস্বত মঠ কি ও তাঁর উদ্দেশ্য, প্রচার্য্য-বিষয় বা বৈশিষ্ট্যের কথা জগতে বোঝাইতে হইলে যেরূপ সুদুরূহ ব্যাপার, প্রচলিত ভাব-ধারায় বিভাবিত ও অনুপ্রাণিত বিশ্বের তাহা আংশিকভাবে উপলব্ধি করাইবার চেষ্টাও ততোধিক গুরুতর কার্য্য । কিন্তু এই মঠের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা আচার্য্য ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তিরক্ষক শ্রীধর দেব গোস্বামী মহারাজ ও তাঁর স্থলাভিষিক্ত সেবাইত আচার্য্য ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তিসুন্দর গোবিন্দ দেব গোস্বামী মহারাজ ও তাঁর মনোনীত বর্তমান সভাপতি আচার্য্য ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজ শ্রীল ভক্তিসিদ্ধান্ত সরস্বতী ঠাকুরের পথ অনুসরণ করে শ্রীকৃষ্ণচৈতন্য মহাপ্রভুর শিক্ষা শুদ্ধভাবে আচার-প্রচারের মাধ্যমে ভারতসহ সারা পৃথিবীতে বদ্ধ জীবকে উদ্ধারের জন্য অক্লান্ত পরিশ্রম করে চলেছেন ।

Do Not Compromise with Maya
"So many problems came in their time, and they did not back off—they spoke the truth; but we are ready to compromise our principles—we compromise what Mahaprabhu teaches us with other things. Srila Sridhar Maharaj saw a big dream that Mahaprabhu's proper conception would be preached all over the world by Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, and that is happening now. We must not surrender to maya."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 11 min | 7 June 2019)

Autobiography of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Srila Guru Maharaj's extensive recollections of his childhood and youth, as well as the coming to the lotus feet of his Gurudev and later on starting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Photo Album: (35 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
A collection of selected photographs of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is now added to the archive of photographs.

Our Literary Heritage
An extensive collection of publications and holy books most mercifully presented to us by devotees who tirelessly collected, transcribed, and presented carefully in a book-form the holy transcendental discourses of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj containing unprecedented and much appreciated and extolled by the entire Vaishnava universe siddhanta. We invite everyone to come in touch with the touchstones of these holy books and embrace the supreme nourishment and fulfilment that any sincere seeker shall find therein.

Exalted, Esteemed, and Inimitable
"We have no quality or qualification to glorify Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is a super personality. Srila Sridhar Maharaj conquered, possessed the heart of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur through his service and devotion."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 10 min | 26 July 2014)

Festival of Solemn Service
"Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's disappearance festival is coming soon and all over the world devotees are making some ceremony on this day. No actual disciple wants to see their Gurudev's disappearance day—it is about the love and affection, about a good connection between the Guru and the disciple..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 28 July 2011)

Make the Festival, with Heart and Soul
"I am telling to everyone who is staying in the temple, to every centre: you must make a festival for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. If you want to show that you want to serve Srila Sridhar Maharaj, then make a good festival on this day."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 July 2012)

The Root of Our Fortune
"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came in this world to rescue us, and he created our Guru—by his grace we have got shelter of our bona fide Guru. So, we must worship his lotus feet."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 22 min | 22 October 2011)

Relation With Guru: Watch Out
"Srila Gurudev gave much honour and much respect to everybody, both his godbrothers and his disciples. However, a disciple should also understand—if Gurudev gives me respect, it does not mean I will now jump and sit on his head."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 19 July 2020)

Spoken on the appearance day of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in 2019:

"They Cannot Steal Our Hearts"
"People in this world want money, things, this, and that, they always search for material things, but we are not like that. They want to enjoy Krishna's things, but devotees always enjoy their practice. That is the main thing."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 1 August 2019)

Brief History
"Soon after Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance in 1937, Srila Sridhar Maharaj also left Chaitanya Math in Mayapur, empty-handed, wearing only his clothes. Feeling very sad, he went to Vrindavan and stayed in Pavan Sarovar..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 9 min | 1 August 2019)

Pure Rupanuga-Dhara
"Actually, anyone can manage a temple, but who did Srila Prabhupad make his acharya (successor) from within his heart? Who could preach the pure conception? Who was the pure Rupanuga-dhara?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 1 August 2019)

At Ultadanga and Godavari
"When Srila Sridhar Maharaj joined in 1926, Srila Prabhupad was staying at Ultadanga. Srila Sridhar Maharaj had passed his Bachelor degree and got admitted to a law college, when one day he got some message that a great sadhu was giving lectures at Ultadanga."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 1 August 2019)

Supreme Fortune and Earnest Prayer
"I am praying to Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Gurudev, 'Wherever you are, you can see all the situation. What is your desire? Your desire is not that they occupy the building, your desire is to preach Sri Rupa-Raghunath katha all over the world, but how will you fulfil your desire?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 1 August 2019)

Spoken on the appearance day of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in 2020:

Our Great Fortune
"Today is a very auspicious day because tomorrow is the appearance day of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Founder Acharya—our Param Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. I am giving my full humble obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev, and our Param Gurudev...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 8 November)

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Appearance and Early Days
"The name of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's father is Upendra Chandra Bhattacharya. His birthpalce is in Hapaniya. His mother's name was Sri Gauri Devi. By the will of the Lord, when Srila Sridhar Maharaj appeared, he was the eldest son. How did his parents get this kind of son? There is some history behind it."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min)

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Powerful Preaching
"When Srila Sridhar Maharaj left his house and joined Gaudiya Mission, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very pleased. Even before taking sannyas, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was a great preacher. He was always very enthusiastic to preach."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min)

Suggested kirtans:

This day in 2013 (Bengali):
• Morning Bengali class of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj: (Download, 13.8 Mb, 40 min)
• Morning kirtans: (Download, 15.9 Mb, 47 min)
• Noon class of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj (includes a ten-minute archive recording of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Bengali lecture at the end, which was played during the class to the assembled audience): (Download, 11.5 Mb, 34 min)

Strongest Faith
"There are different kinds of faith—kamala-sraddha, taranga-sraddha, drdha sraddha, sudrdha sraddha. Depending on what kind of faith you have, that kind of devotion will come to you. Not everybody has the same faith for the Lord, for the Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 14 October 2018)

Inner Fulfillment
The revised electronic version of the book, suitable for all electronic devices, is now available for download. (Format: ePub. Size: 4.9 Mb)

• HOME COMFORT •

Foreword
'Sincere practitioners are themselves an introduction to the subject of genuine, joyful, spiritual life, but they are not able to visit everyone personally. Therefore, we are taking the opportunity afforded by the modern scientific age to print books to broadcast such wisdom widely.'

Part One
'Please listen attentively to what I shall explain. I shall try to explain the subject to you in a scientific way, in general, independent of all religious conceptions. First of all, we are to understand that there are three planes of life: the plane of mundane enjoyment, the plane of renunciation, and the plane of dedication.'

Beneficial Association
"What is association? What is good association? Sadhus always speak about Krishna-katha, Bhagavat-katha, about spiritual things. Bad association means you should not listen so much to gossips, do not listen to others criticising Vaishnavs."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 14 October 2018)

• HOME COMFORT •

Part Two
'Higher things do exist, but the general man in this world has no knowledge about them. We are indeed experiencers and have some knowledge, but only to a particular degree and standard. We cannot venture to calculate what is beyond our reach. But if those who actually have experience of that plane come to us and give us some information, then we can gain some understanding from their investigation and their real connection with the subject matter.'

Sincerity in Service
"We must understand what is favourable to devotion and accept it, and we must reject what is unfavourable to devotion. Sincerity, nistha, means when you do something, you must do it properly and do it regularly."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 9 min | 14 October 2018)

• HOME COMFORT •

Part Three
'So if you want to get out of this dreaming life and enter reality, then raise yourself to the standard of finding the plane of reality, however subtle it may be, for that cannot be devoured by death. Collect your energy to build up something permanent. At present you are investing your energy in something that is going to be demolished at the next moment—a foolish attempt.'

Association: Root of (Mis?)fortune
"First we must understand what is good association, what is bad association. When somebody is talking to you, what kind of talk are they doing? Is it actually beneficial to your spiritual life or harmful? Those who are always covered by the illusory environment cannot understand their Guru, their Gurudev's mercy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 8 min | 15 October 2018)

• HOME COMFORT •

Part Four
'You can discuss the entire position in the company of saints and, in this way, make progress in your life and save yourself. But if, having received a human birth, you lose this chance (you do not try to help yourself properly, do not try to attain a wholesale relief), then you are committing suicide or even worse than that.'

In honour of Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj:

"In 1914, when Srila Prabhupad arrived a few days before the festival of Sriman Mahaprabhu's appearance, he met with Srila Vamsidas Babaji Mahasaya, an affectionate associate of Srila Gaurakishor Das Goswami Maharaj, in the yard of a large gymnasium in Kuliya. At that time, Srila Vamsidas did not speak to anyone—he would only constantly sing on his own the verses from ‘Prarthana’ written by Srila Narottam Thakur Mayasaya for his holy Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda, whom he served with pure loving devotion. Seeing Prabhupad, Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj became extremely happy and, overcome with feelings, said, 'My Gaura's very own has come.' After that, he cordially welcomed Prabhupad, gave him a place to sit and began to sing ‘Prarthana’ by Thakur Mahasay. It was heard that he would every day somehow gather champaka flowers, string them into two garlands and offer them onto the necks of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda. After Srila Prabhupad had seen this service, he told us much about the loving service of Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj and said that he was constantly engaged in a much cherished service in ardent adherence to Srila Narottam Thakur Mahasaya. Prabhupad also said at the time that outside people could not grasp the unholy practises that Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj displayed in order to deceive the outside people. The activities and actions of a perfected Vaishnav of an unfathomable character can never be perceived by enjoyers, renunciates and imposter devotees."

(From 'Saraswati Jayasri')

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:

Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj was the only sadhu who was recognised by our Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad) as a sadhu. Indifferent to the world, Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj lived a strict life of a babaji. He would be seen smoking publicly and living in his ashram with so many things scattered around it (fish scales, etc.) as he wanted to keep himself aloof from the society. He was indifferent to all those worldly things; he was actually searching after Krishna in his heart. Despite so many contradictory symptoms in his character, he had the recognition of our Guru Maharaj as a real living Vaishnava. Our Guru Maharaj rejected so many Vrindavan babajis as being imitators, but Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj was not an imitator—he really hankered for Krishna.

Another time, some gentleman was singing a song of Srila Narottam Das Thakur. When he finished singing, Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj remarked, "You have only superficially repeated the sound, but the real influence, the real impression, the inner voltage is unknown to you. Those who are hit by the strong feeling suggested by this song can know the power underlying it, but you are merely repeating the sound physically, you do not feel the volt, the energy within it. The voltage of the meaning of this song has not struck your heart." He remarked like that. Ordinary men who exist on the surface only repeat sounds, but those whose hearts have been touched by the deep underlying meaning can understand what that song contains...

"For a particular purpose it may be all right to keep a beard, but that is not the custom, neither with the sannyasis, nor with the babajis. Srila Sanatan Goswami had a full beard and Mahaprabhu ordered, 'Take him to a barber and remove it.' Neither sannyasis, nor babajis keep such things. So, we do not like to keep it either. During the Chaturmasya, for the vrata, it is mentioned in the sastra that we can keep hair and beard, otherwise generally not. At the same time, it is not that if one keeps long hair and long beard he cannot be a Vaishnav. There was Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj, an independent Vaishnav. Our Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad) also gave respect to him as a Vaishnav, but he had a big beard and did not shave at all. He was very negligent, he did not follow any sort of fashion—he did not allow any barber to shave him. Still, he was a respectable Vaishnav. As for yourself, if you keep a beard only to satisfy the Muslims for the purpose of your service—if you approach them to collect money and you can render good service to your Gurudev through that, then, for this purpose, to keep the safety of your vocation, you may keep a beard."

(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

It can sometimes be very hard for us to accept the different natures of the devotees in this Krishna consciousness mission. If someone will stick to only one attitude, then he must be doomed to failure. There are many devotees—and many different natures. As an example, you can see in our own Sri Guru-varga that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has one kind of nature, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj has another kind of nature, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's nature is of another type, and Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj's nature is yet another. But they are all siddha-mahapurusas—perfected souls. Also Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj has another type of nature, and our Srila Guru Maharaj yet another. So who are you to follow?

Srila Govinda Maharaj: Yes, They accepted. Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj's position was such that he was a paramahamsa Vaishnav in vatsalya-rasa, so Nitai-Gaura could not ignore his offering. But you cannot imitate him.

(Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Golden Reflections)

Question: It was the disappearance day of Vamsi Das Babaji yesterday. Could you tell us something about that?

Actually, there are many followers of Mahaprabhu. Not so much is written about many of them, but because they are followers of Mahaprabhu we give their name in the panjika (calendar). We always pay obeisance to them because they serve Mahaprabhu. Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj, Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj and others are our line and like many previous Gurus and babajis in our line, they lived and did bhajan in Radha Kunda, but after that they came to Nabadwip. We respect them as our Guru-varga, and that is sufficient for us, it is not so important to know the detailed history of their lives. Sometimes, the description of their life is not written anywhere in the scriptures, but we always follow our Srila Sridhar Maharaj's panjika and we give their name in it.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Odds and Ends)

Improving Spiritual Life
"We do not think what is the service to the sadhu, what is the sadhu's priority. What for have we come to Krishna consciousness? We must first see to our spiritual life, we must not think about our material interest—we must follow Gurudev's instruction."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 15 October 2018)

• HOME COMFORT •

Part Five: Sri Guru and His Grace
'A gentle touch of Sri Guru’s merciful hand can wipe off incessant tears from all weeping eyes. A patriot or a philanthropist makes the problem only worse in his frantic and futile attempt to alleviate the deep-rooted pain of a suffering soul, as an ignorant doctor does in eagerly handling an unfortunate patient. O the day when this poor soul realizes the causeless grace of Sri Gurudev!'

Rusty and Nasty
"What is service in spiritual life? The main thing is that you must make your Gurudev happy. If we see how our Guru-varga preach Krishna consciousness, what they do to make their Gurudev happy, how they serve their Gurudev, then we can understand what service is."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 15 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Foreword
'We love to read a book which we have never read before. We are anxious to gather whatever information is contained in it, and with such acquirement our curiosity stops. But this is not study. The student is to read the facts with a view to create, and not with the object of fruitless retention. Students, like satellites, should reflect whatever light they receive from authors, and not imprison the facts and thoughts just as the magistrates imprison the convicts in the jail!'

What Is Service?
"Even if it looks like worship, if it is what our mind tells us to do, it is not bhajan—service is serving your Guru and Vaishnavs under the guidance of your Guru and Vaishnavs; without the guidance of the Guru, it is not service."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 15 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Preface
'For spiritual advancement of life we must go to someone who is actually practicing spiritual life. So if one is actually serious to take instructions from a siksa guru, or instructing spiritual master, I can refer him to one who is the most competent of all my Godbrothers. This is B.R. Sridhar Maharaj. I consider Sridhar Maharaj to be even my siksa guru, so what to speak of the benefit that others can have from his association.'

Introduction
'“What you are searching for, that is! Don’t be disappointed.” The Vedas say that the object of our inner search exists. The common search of all your hearts is existing, and your thirst will be quenched. So prepare yourself, after your long search, to receive that long missing nectar in its full form and quality. Awake! Arise! Search for your fortune and you cannot but have that. It is your birthright. It is the wealth of your own soul. It cannot but be within you. You have no other business, no other engagement but Krishna-anusandhana, the Search for Sri Krishna: Reality the Beautiful.'

Learn Siddhanta
"How much our Guru-varga has been trying to teach proper Krishna consciousness, to teach proper etiquette! Take Gurudev's instruction, take his association and you will become a proper devotee."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 15 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Krishna Consciousness: Love and Beauty
'We have to sacrifice ourselves for Krishna, because He is the absolute good, beauty, and love. Faith and selflessness are required to such a high degree. If we accept Krishna consciousness as our highest ideal, then so much sacrifice is necessary, but sacrifice means life: “Die to live.” There is no loss by sacrifice. We can only gain by giving ourselves.'

Lucid Living
"Our life is very short—we can leave our body at any time. What have we got this body for? We must understand it and utilise this human body for the service of the Guru. You cannot conquer maya unless you surrender to your Guru properly."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 16 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Saints, Scriptures, and Gurus
'We are in such an area. What is to be done? Try to get out. Try your best to get out of this mortal area. The saints inform us, “Come home dear friend, let us go home. Why are you suffering so much trouble unnecessarily in a foreign land?” The spiritual world is real; this material world is unreal: springing and vanishing, coming and going, it is a farce! From the world of farce we must come to reality.'

What Is Proper Surrender?
"Sometimes you cannot understand the mercy of Gurudev, you cannot understand what Gurudev says—that is because of your ego, because there are so many bad elements within you, because you are not surrendered fully."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 10 min | 16 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Fossilism vs. Subjective Evolution
'Science means not to extend the jurisdiction of exploitation, knowing fully well there will be a reaction. By extending the space of exploitation, we will also surely be exploited. If one knowingly commits an offense, then he is charged with more punishment. So, so-called scientific advancement is suicidal.'

Devotional Relationship
"Days are passing very quickly while we waste time on so many nonsense things, on sleeping, eating, enjoying. We must learn something from Gurudev. We must have full surrender, and surrender means not just saying it with your mouth—you must show what your surrender is."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 16 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Origin of the Soul
'How does the soul first appear in this world? From what stage of spiritual existence does he fall into the material world? This is a broad question, which requires some background information. Because the soul is atomic, his freewill is imperfect and vulnerable. The result of that free choice is that some are coming into the material world, and some are going to the spiritual world. So, the responsibility is with the individual soul.'

Question: We hear that Sri Hari Smaran festival has begun. What activities or reading do you recommend for us?

You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, that will be good. Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam is a good book, you can read it and remind yourself of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you some books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand, I am not writing in very high language, so they are easy to understand.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

(16 August—18 September)

Depend On Your Guru
"Krishna has given all His power to our Gurudev, and all you need to do is to listen properly to his advice, his order. We are not independent. If we do some service under the guidance of Guru and Vaishnav, then we can realise everything properly."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 17 October 2018)

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Knowledge Above Mortality
'When knowledge comes in connection with the absolute, it loses its filthy characteristic. Then we can have full knowledge, which will lead us to prema-bhakti, love of God. Everything is meant for Krishna. He is the only enjoyer of everything. He is the absolute autocrat, and He is the absolute good. We are all His servants, and everything is meant for His satisfaction. We must come to this understanding.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

Preface
'It has been vividly illustrated herein that a life without surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Krishna is utterly futile, and the most treasured perfection achieved through exclusive surrender has been revealed. This will especially encourage those who are aspiring to enter the land of devotion, drawing them onward to the lotus feet of Sri Hari.'

Publisher's Note
'Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, The Life-nectar of the Surrendered Souls, is the crown-jewel of divine literatures as the eternal elixir of life for the exclusively surrendered souls, the bestower of the perpetual relish of full-fledged nectar, and the awakening and sustaining fountainhead of life in Divine Consorthood.'

Foreword
'Surrender is the indispensable necessity in the life of a devotee, and Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls will sustain and fortify the surrendered souls as the nectar in their lives of Positive and Progressive Immortality.'

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and accepting material facilities:

"One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his decision.

"My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur) always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service. That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna, not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed soldiers.'

"So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not Fast on ekadasi at all: 'Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in Vrindavan.' But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like that – it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by fasting a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your service, you may go on fasting – perhaps, your gurudev wanted that...

"For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my gurudev.'

"Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur a loss for myself, for the world, and my guru's service will be hampered. In this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krishna, for the cause of their guru, they will accept anything.

"Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then, some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be held responsible by the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit, the opportunity has been lost! Why should you not spend My money for My interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled to take something for that.

"Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is Krishna's account, and if I do not do that, I should be a separatist, a mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to Krishna, and I must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be punishable."

"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Greatest Gift
"Who can understand the extent of Nityananda Prabhu's help to us? We can understand easily how merciful Gurudev is, how kind Gurudev is to us. He is giving us, presenting us such good things. We must only accept it."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 17 October 2018)

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Knowledge Above Mortality
'When knowledge comes in connection with the absolute, it loses its filthy characteristic. Then we can have full knowledge, which will lead us to prema-bhakti, love of God. Everything is meant for Krishna. He is the only enjoyer of everything. He is the absolute autocrat, and He is the absolute good. We are all His servants, and everything is meant for His satisfaction. We must come to this understanding.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(1) Prelude to Approaching Nectar
'An auspicious invocation, a humble petition, an introduction to the book and its chapters, and the theme of the philosophy of the book have, to the best of my ability, all been entered within this first chapter named Upakramamrtam or Prelude to Approaching Nectar.'

In honour of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu:

Srimad Rupa-Goswami-Prabhura Sochaka
শ্রীমদ্রূপগোস্বামি-প্রভুর শোচক
"O my very goal of life, Sri Rupa Goswami! He is extremely merciful, an ocean of great qualities. Whoever gets his mercy, gets the feet of Chaitanya and attains Radha and Krishna in Vraja Dham (Vrindavan). His nature is such that he gave mercy to the worst, most sinful, fallen, miserable souls. How much more can one mouth possibly say? Please accept me! May I always, at every moment, remember your lotus feet—please hear this prayer of mine!"

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu (1)
"Tomorrow is Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's and Srila Gauridas Pandit's disappearance day. We want to say something about them because our Guru Maharaj Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and our Gurupadpadma are Rupanuga-dhara—they are holding Srila Rupa Goswami's flag."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 29 July 2012)

Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana Dasakam
"Srila Rupa Goswami is the mine of the most precious treasure, the leader of the associates of Lord Chaitanya. Despite my lowliness, when will—disregarding all my various qualifications and disqualifications—Srimad Rupa Prabhu grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?"

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu (2)
"We must all pray to Srila Rupa Goswami, 'Prabhu, wherever you are staying now, please forgive our offences. Please engage us to serve your servant, please tolerate us. Prabhu, please accept us as a dog at your lotus feet!'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 29 July 2012)

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu
"He is actually an associate of Mahaprabhu. Before that, in Dvapara yuga, he was an associate of Krishna, and Krishna Himself sent him to teach us, the fallen souls. On his disappearance day we can ask him for some mercy so that we can continue our service to the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 18 August 2013)

Rupa Sanatan: First Encounter
"Rupa and Sanatan stayed in Ramkeli-gram in Malda district, Gauda Mandal and worked for the emperor Hussein Shah. They heard that somebody tried to start kirtan, and, understanding that it had to be Mahaprabhu, they went to meet with Him."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 13 June 2015)

Service Subordination
"We start service by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, by the mercy of Radharani. Without Their mercy we cannot do anything. One day, Sanatan Goswami came to Rupa Goswami. He asked him, 'For so many days I have not taken sweet rice..."
• Download (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 21 September 2009)

Dignity of the Divine Servitor: Descent of Knowledge
"When in Vrindavana, Rupa Goswami wanted to offer his Guru, Sanatan Goswami, some sweet-rice. He thought, 'My Gurudeva likes sweet-rice. If I can secure some milk, sugar, raisins, nuts, etc., I shall be able to make some sweet-rice, offer it to Krishna, and then to my Gurudeva.' A little later, a young girl, perhaps twelve or fourteen years of age, came to Rupa Goswami's bhajan-kutir in Kadam Kandi..."

Sri Rupa-Sanatan Siksa (EPUB file, 0.5 Mb)
"Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Sri Rupa-Satana Siksa, read and expounded by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj." An electronic version of the published previously online matter available now for download, reading and worshipping on phones, tablets, eBook readers, etc.

• SONG: Sri Sad-Goswamy-Astakam | শ্রীশ্রীষড়্­গোস্বাম্যষ্টকম্
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, who are always engaged in chanting the Holy Name of Krishna and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Chaitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe."

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is nondifferent from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and is the very life of Sri Rupa's followers. Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, and Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu are dear to Visvambhar."

• 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. If anyone comes to you, their sins go away."

• SONG: Vaisnava thakura dayara sagara | বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর দয়ার সাগর
"O worshippable Vaishnav, ocean of grace, be merciful to this servant. Give me the shade of your feet and purify me. I clasp your feet. Mercifully give me a drop of faith and bestow upon me the wealth of Krishna's Name."

• SONG: Ki-rupe paiba seva | কিরূপে পাইব সেবা
"I am so wicked, how will I ever get service? I do not have any attachment to Sri Guru and Vaishnavs! It is not possible to conquer maya by engaging in maya. I see no other way to get relief except for the mercy of sadhus."

• SONG: Ye anila prema dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"I will break my head on a rock, I will enter into fire. Not finding the association of Sri Gauranga, who performed His Pastimes with all these associates, Narottam Das weeps."

• SONG: Sri Rupa-manjari-pada | শ্রীরূপমঞ্জরী-পদ
"The lotus feet of Sri Rupa Manjari are my wealth, my bhajan (service), my puja (worship), the wealth of my life, and whatever ornaments I may have. Her lotus feet are the very life of my life."

In honour of Srila Gauri Das Pandit Goswami:

At Gauri Das Pandit's House
"Gauri Das Pandit was a grihastha devotee who lived in Kalna. His brother was the father of Jahnava and Vasudha. Once, Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu came to Kalna by boat and decided to visit Gauri Das Pandit's house..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 8 min)

Srila Gauri Das Pandit's Gaura Nitai
The story of how Srila Gauri Das Pandit's Deities manifested Themselves at his house in Kalna.
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min)

Pure Surrender—Key to Pure Solution
"We should not bargain with the Guru—when Gurudev tells you something, you should listen properly and show with your action, with your service that you are a proper servitor of your Guru. You must show your Guru with your actions, 'I am not independent.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 17 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Six Philosophies of India
'Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the nineteenth century founder of the Krishna consciousness movement, sings in one song: “O my Lord Krishna, I see that everything is available in Your world, which has an infinite, variegated nature. Separated from You, however, we are always feeling miseries. A continuous flow of suffering has swallowed us from birth to death, and we cannot tolerate the pain of such misery. And so many relief agents: Kapila, Patanjali, Gautama, Kanada, Jaimini, Buddha, are running towards us, offering their solutions.”'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(2) Nectar of Scriptural Word
'This second chapter, Sri Sastra-vachanamritam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, describes surrender as corroborated in the Revealed Scriptures headed by the Vedas (Sruti) and the Religious Codes (Smrti).'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(3) Acceptance of the Favorable
'Everything should be done that encourages the service of Sri Krishna and His devotee, and whatever is conducive to the state of exclusive surrender must be executed: such a firm conviction is called anukulyasya-sankalpah—Acceptance of the Favorable.'

In honour of Sri Baladev Prabhu:

Sri Baladev Tattva (1)
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "You cannot prosper in your spiritual life without taking shelter of Baladev. If you take shelter of Gurudev, then you will get everything."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 15 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Baladev Tattva (2): Appearance and Pastimes
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "In Rama-lila, Laksman is younger than Ramachandra, so could not serve Ramachandra properly because a younger brother is always afraid of the elder brother. Therefore, in the pastimes of Krishna, Baladev became an elder son—when Krishna performed His pastimes, Balaram was always with Him."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 14 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Baladev Tattva (3): Later Pastimes
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "Although Sri Baladev is Vishnu-tattva, He Himself serves the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna as His foremost servant. He also engages others in the service of Krishna and exhibits the pastime of acting as the original spiritual master. In spite of all this, during His manifest pastimes in this material world, He Himself performed the pastime of accepting a guru in order to teach the importance of taking shelter of a guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 15 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Baladev Purnima: A Special Day
"In India, some devotees are worshipping Radha-Krishna's Jhulan Yatra today, but we are making a programme for Baladev, who is nondifferent from Gurudev and Nityananda Prabhu. This is our line, the line of Rupanuga Guru-varga."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 11 min | 13 August 2011)

Devotion Conquers—Ego Repels
Lord Balaram, Kaliya-daman Lila, Saubhari Muni, Sudama Vipra, the sun, a vessel, a drum, a pig, and a drop of water—all these are woven together to guide us towards perfect devotion.
• Download / listen to the audio (10.4 Mb, 30 min | 9 August 2014)

Asraya Vigraha Sri Baladev
"Without the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, without the shelter of Baladev Prabhu, we cannot think about Krishna. We must understand how to serve, how to give nourishment to Baladev."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 11 min | 10 August 2014)

Sri Baladev Prabhu: Krishna's Merciful Alter Ego
"What is the glory of this pastime? It shows that Balaram ploughs and cultivates (karsan) and at the same time also attracts, pulls towards Him (akarsan). In other words, Baladev, or Gurudev, removes all bad elements from the hearts of practitioners."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 8 min | 15 August 2019)

Baladev Lila: "Can We Be Friends?"
"I want to tell a little bit about Baladev's lila from what is written in Srimad Bhagavatam. You have all heard that Kamsa sent so many demons to kill Krishna and Krishna killed them all, but Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Baladev killed Pralambasur."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 August 2019)

Baladev Purnima: Double Festival in Russia
"Today, everybody is celebrating Sri Sri Baladev Prabhu's appearance day everywhere. Today is also the Deities' installation day in Saint Petersburg temple, our main centre in Russia. Even Madhavendra Puri showed us how important it is to serve the Deities..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 13 August 2011)

Hari-katha of His Divine Grace in a class spoken on the adhivas of Lord Baladev's appearance in 2020:

Step Your Service Up
"We should not waste our time on our own enjoyment, we must give our time for the enjoyment and happiness of our Lord, our Gurudev. I know everybody will be working, it is Monday, the first day of the week days, but we must still do some service for Baladev Prabhu's appearance day. Remember this. If you only fast and give some flower to Gurudev, that is not sufficient."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 2 August 2020)

Disciple's Core Quality
"To receive and digest chastisement, it is necessary to have tolerance. How many devotees can tolerate chastisement? Very few. When Gurudev chastises you, you must be quiet—you have no right to say a single word."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 2 August 2020)

On Cows and Baladev-Tattva
"(1) Krishna likes cows, and if we can make cows happy, Krishna will always be happy. (2) Sachi Mata understood that Nityananda Prabhu was non-different from Baladev—that Baladev Himself had come as Nityananda Prabhu."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 2 August 2020)

Sweeter Than the Sweetest
"Krishna's pastimes are very sweet. Krishna's beauty, Krishna's pastimes, Krishna's love, Krishna's smile, everything about Him is sweet, sweeter, and sweeter than the sweetest..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 2 August 2020)

Prasadam—Pivot of Practising
"You are not to take what is not offered to the Lord. Always take prasadam, then all your diseases will be removed. Always cook with care and always make sure what you have cooked is edible. If the cook is not good, then neither Krishna, nor Gurudev will be happy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 2 August 2020)

Clear Conception
"You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam and remind yourself of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can get everything in them."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 2 August 2020)

Ideal Service Mood
"In this world, there are all sorts of misconceptions prominent all over the world, but you must establish the conception of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, the conception of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. When you get some pleasure in your heart through service, then no matter how much disturbance comes, nothing will be able to stop you—you will still feel more and more enthusiasm, attachment and enjoyment through that service."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 9 min | 2 August 2020)

• SONG: Sri Dasa-Avatara-Stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
"O Lord of the universe! You have assumed the form of Balaram! All glory to You! On Your white body You wear garments the colour of clouds and the color of the River Yamuna when she is frightened by the striking of Your plough."

Turning Homebound
"We use our life to do nonsense thinking that we will go to heaven... This is not right because we all have come from the same family. We are now separate, going here and there because of our karma, but we must remember that we must get to our destination."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 18 October 2018)

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Beyond Christianity
'Christianity is incomplete Vaishnavism—not full-fledged, but the basis of devotional theism. We find the principle of “Die to live” there to a certain extent, at least physically. The Christians say that the ideal shown by Jesus is self-sacrifice. In our consideration, however, that is not full-fledged theism, but only the basis. The conception of service to God is there, and a strong impetus to attain that, so the foundation is good, but the structure over the foundation is unclear, vague, and imperfect.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(4) Rejection of the Unfavorable
'The principle to reject everything opposed to the service of the Lord and His devotee, and to similarly abstain from everything opposed to an attitude of surrender, is known as pratikulya-vivarjjanam—Rejection of the Unfavorable.'

Price for the Advantage
"There are so many faults in the age of Kali, but there is also one great quality in it: Krishna Himself comes in the form of His Name. If we take shelter of the Holy Name—if we chant properly, without offence—then we can understand the real truth."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 18 October 2018)

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Levels of God Realization
'Self-surrender is the very basis of our highest fortune. We cannot but surrender ourselves to whatever beautiful and valuable thing we have come across. Our appreciation for any higher thing is shown by the degree of our surrender to that. So, we can measure the quality of the truth we are connected with only by the intensity of our surrender.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(5) Confidence in the Lord's Protection
'"Certainly Lord Krishna will protect me, because He is the friend of the devotees. He will definitely bless us with all auspiciousness and success." Within this chapter, such faith is sustained.'

Sarveswar and Nirgun Krishna
"When we are born, our mothers tell me, 'This is your father,' and we believe it because only the mother knows who the father is. In the same way, we must believe properly what the scriptures say."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 18 October 2018)

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The Krishna Conception
'Surrender is not a lip transaction. Surrender means not only to surrender one’s possessions, but to realize that the possessions themselves are false. I am not a master of anything. I am not even master of myself. Surrender means to give everything to the guru, and rid ourselves of the unholy connection of so many possessions.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(6) Embracing the Lord's Guardianship
'"O Krishna, please protect me! My dear Lord, kindly accept me as Your own." Such a prayer, as well as the prayer to obtain Sri Krishna as one's lord and master, is the supreme solace to the hearts of the pure devotees, and is known by them as Embracing the Lord's Guardianship.'

Foundation of Surrender
"When one surrenders to the Lord, even if they are unable to understand Krishna consciousness, if they practise sravanam, kirtanam, they too will get a great benefit through that. Through sravanam and kirtanam, we can clean our heart and understand what a devotee of Krishna is."
• Download / listen to the audio (3 Mb, 9 min | 19 October 2018)

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The Hare Krishna Mantra
'We must not accept the name as a foreign thing: He is our friend. We should be quite at home with Him. We are going to attain a very soothing and friendly connection by the realization of the holy name of Krishna, which is all-good, all-beautiful, and all-charming. By chanting the holy name we will attain our most desirable end of life and go back to God, back to home, and not to any foreign country.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(7) Full Self-Surrender
'To summarily offer everything—from body and its paraphernalia up to pure soul—unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari, is known as Full Self-surrender. All selfish pursuits are abandoned and every endeavor is for Krishna alone, and that too, up to the point of completely depending on Krishna for one's personal means and ends. Having thus cast oneself unto the holy lotus feet of one's Lord, one can never be swayed from that position, and he engages in pure devotional service with all his heart forever.'

Strict and Straight Preaching
"This is what Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur teaches us: you cannot just close your mouth, you must do what is necessary—you must practise the real conception and you must preach it also."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 19 October 2018)

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Service of the Holy Name
'There are so many sayings in the scriptures to encourage our realization of the holy name in different ways, but Srila Rupa Goswami has given us a central thought: atah sri krsna namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih. Our senses, physical or mental, are ineligible to come in touch with the transcendental. But when we have a serving attitude, He comes down to us of His own accord.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(8) Surrender in Humility
'"O Lord, please protect me, protect me..." Such an internal sense of heartbreak in the devotees, which causes their remembrance in love, in all circumstances, of the extension of grace from the unequaled and unexcelled ocean of compassion, Sri Hari, and which characteristically causes them to ever remember their feeling of most lamentable destitution, is known by the learned as Surrender in Humility.'

Do Not Ruin Yourself
"Maya (illusory environment) is always very active, and we can fall down any time. We must become servants of Nityananda Prabhu, servants of Gurudev, servants of devotees—if we can become their footdust, that is sufficient for our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 20 October 2018)

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Nectar of the Holy Name
'Not only the sound of the holy name of Krishna is necessary, but also the proper meaning, the substance, the spirit of the sound. Only the physical aspect of the holy name is represented in nama-aparadha, offensive chanting, not the real name. The real name is all spiritual.'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(9) Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord
'Herein, collected from the Holy Scriptures headed by Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, are words of nectar directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the nectar to vanquish all sorrow and darkness for the souls surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, and also for those aspiring for exclusive love for Krishna. It nourishes the lives of the devotees, pleasing their hearts by fulfilling all their cherished desires for devotional service.'

In honour of the festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami:

• Complete fast till midnight is spiritually auspicious and prescribed for all devotees whose health permits it, provided it does not interfere significantly with their service duties.

• Those who cannot observe complete fast can take anukalpa prasad (similar to what is taken on ekadasi).

• Necessary medication can be taken even if you are fasting (if the medication should not be taken on empty stomach, some anukalpa can be taken).

• As per the instruction of and tradition established by Param Srila Guru Maharaj Om Vishnupad Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees spend the day engaged in various services for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga and read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (not Bhagavatam) continuously from the beginning to the end (parayan). Closer to midnight, the pastime of Krishna's birth can be read from Srimad Bhagavatam.

• The appearance of Lord Krishna is at midnight, so, as each year in every branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees hold a grand celebration offering a special arati and festive bhoga offering (grain and non-grain) to the Lordships at midnight.

• After the midnight arati, devotees honour anukalpa prasadam (no grains, like on ekadashi) and retire to rest to awaken for the mangal-arati and continue the celebration the next day on Sri Nandotsav. The grain prasadam is kept aside and lovingly distributed to all the devotees the next day, on Sri Nandotsav. Another special bhoga offering is made on this day, and the prasad is distributed to the devotees.

• His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "You must understand what we are making the Janmastami festival for. To show ourselves and our big ego? No. We are making this festival to give much nourishment to the devotees through Hari-katha, through Krishna-katha, by giving good things to them."

• SEARCH FOR SRI KRISHNA •

Reality the Beautiful
'Afterwards, Ramananda Raya and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had some other talks, and Mahaprabhu said, “Ramananda, as long as I live I want your company.” Ramananda replied, “Yes, I must take shelter of Your divine feet and live there for the rest of my life.”'

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM •

(10) Divine Remnants of Nectar
'In the preparation of this book, those who have infused vitality within my poor heart, or who have assisted in the study, reading, or amendment of the book, or who have in any other way contributed toward its production—unto the lotus feet of all those well-wishing Godbrothers and good devotees who have extended or who may in the future extend their goodwill upon this humble soul, I hereby offer my obeisances again and again.'

dadhi-mathana-ninadais-tyakta-nidrah prabhate
nibhrta-padam agaram ballavinam pravistah
mukha-kamala-samirair asu nirvapya dipan
kavalita-navanitah patu mam bala-krsnah

"That child Krsna, who, awakening by the sound of butter-churning, stealthily enters the homes of the cowherd ladies, swiftly blows out the lamps with the breeze of His lotus mouth and devours the fresh butter—may He kindly protect me." (Composed by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu)

he krsna karuna-sindho
dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta
radha-kanta namo 'stu te

"O my dear Krishna, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen and the lover of the gopis, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You."

Some of the kirtans that can be sung on this holy day:

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"By Krishna's association, Brahma became devoted to Krishna's service. By Brahma's association, Narad Muni became devoted... All the Gurus in this succession are associates of Sri Gauranga. I pray for their remnants."

• SONG: Janama saphala ta'ra | জনম সফল তা'র
"The birth of one who, by good fortune, has once seen Krishna is successful. Developing the heart's eyes and seeing Krishna, such a soul abandons all delusions. Krishna is expert at play in Vrindavan..."

• SONG: Suno he rasika-jana | শুনহে রসিক জন
"The transcendental qualities of Sri Krishna are innumerable. Krishna is the spiritual master of the entire universe, a wishfulfilling desire-tree, and the captain of the boat in the ocean of material existence."

• SONG: He deva bhavantam vande | (হে) দেব ভবন্তং বন্দে
"The transcendental qualities of Sri Krishna are innumerable. Krishna is the spiritual master of the entire universe, a wishfulfilling desire-tree, and the captain of the boat in the ocean of material existence."

• SONG: Jaya Radha-Madhava | জয় রাধামাধব
"Glory to Radha-Madhava, the beloved of Srimati Radharani! Glory to Kunja-bihari, the Enjoyer of pastimes in the groves of Vraja."

• SONG: Yasomati-Nandana | যশোমতীনন্দন
"Sri Krishna, who is known as Kana, is Yasoda's darling son, Vraja's paramour, Gokula's delight, the gopis' life and wealth, the enchanter of Cupid, and the conqueror of Kaliya."

• SONG: Hari he dayala mora | হরি হে দয়াল মোর
"O Hari! O my merciful Lord! All glories to You, the Lord of Radha! So many times I have avoided You, but this time please take me as Your own."

ADDITIONAL SONGS:
• Dasavatara Stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
• Mayura mukuta | ময়ূর-মুকুট
• Yasomati-Nandana | যশোমতীনন্দন
• Sri Damodarastakam | শ্রীশ্রীদামোদরাষ্টকম্

In honour of the festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami:

• Complete fast till midnight is spiritually auspicious and prescribed for all devotees whose health permits it, provided it does not interfere significantly with their service duties.

• Those who cannot observe complete fast can take anukalpa prasad (similar to what is taken on ekadasi).

• Necessary medication can be taken even if you are fasting (if the medication should not be taken on empty stomach, some anukalpa can be taken).

• As per the instruction of and tradition established by Param Srila Guru Maharaj Om Vishnupad Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees spend the day engaged in various services for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga and read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (not Bhagavatam) continuously from the beginning to the end (parayan). Closer to midnight, the pastime of Krishna's birth can be read from Srimad Bhagavatam.

• The appearance of Lord Krishna is at midnight, so, as each year in every branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees hold a grand celebration offering a special arati and festive bhoga offering (grain and non-grain) to the Lordships at midnight.

• After the midnight arati, devotees honour anukalpa prasadam (no grains, like on ekadashi) and retire to rest to awaken for the mangal-arati and continue the celebration the next day on Sri Nandotsav. The grain prasadam is kept aside and lovingly distributed to all the devotees the next day, on Sri Nandotsav. Another special bhoga offering is made on this day, and the prasad is distributed to the devotees.

• His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "You must understand what we are making the Janmastami festival for. To show ourselves and our big ego? No. We are making this festival to give much nourishment to the devotees through Hari-katha, through Krishna-katha, by giving good things to them."

Sri Krishna Janmastami, 2019 (Tarakeshwar)	Sri Nandotsav, 2019 (Tarakeshwar)		Sri Krishna Janmastami, 2018 (Nrisingha Palli)	Sri Nandotsav, 2018 (Nrisingha Palli)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Celebrate and Realise
"What we are making the Janmastami festival for? To show ourselves and our big ego? No, we are making this festival to give much nourishment to the devotees through Hari-katha, through Krishna-katha, by giving good things to them."
• Download / listen to the audio (9.3 Mb, 27 min | 22 August 2011)

Sri Krishna Janmastami Message
"Good things are coming to us in the future. All devotees should stay together—we must all together celebrate this Janmastami vrata maha-mahotsav, serving Krishna's devotees with tolerance, humility and giving honour to others."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 23 August 2019 | English)

"Raise the Anchor, Sir!"
"In the devotional line, this body is compared to a boat, and the helmsman of the boat is the Guru. If we can stay aboard the boat that Gurudev is sailing, then we can cross over the Viraja River and come to stay with Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2019 | Bengali)

Gopal's Pastimes
"When Kamsa got the news of the child's birth, he was astonished that it was a girl, Maya. When he killed her, she rose in the air and said, 'He who will kill you already lives in Gokula.' After that, Kamsa began his atrocities. Who did he send first? Putana."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 18 min | 23 August 2019 | Bengali)

Lord's Stealing and Rewarding
"There are many other pastimes that Lord Sri Krishna performed. There was also a funny pastime at Chir Ghat. This pastime has a deep meaning. Many think this is funny, but actually it is not—this pastime is all about self-surrender."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 23 August 2019 | Bengali)

Mercy Incarnate
"By a great mercy and fortune, we have got the darshan of sadhus, Guru and Vaishnavs in this lifetime. Having got their darshan, we have got everything! By getting their darshan, hearing Hari-katha from such Vaishnavs, hearing about such Vaishnavs' qualities purifies the heart."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 23 August 2019 | Bengali)

Fall at the Lord's Feet
"It is my prayer to you all—please, always chant the glories of the Vaishnavs, Gurudev, and the Lord. We also pray to the Lord that you may all always engage in service, in Hari-katha, in the kirtan, and that not a single day may pass in your life without it..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 23 August 2019 | Bengali)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: No Pain, No Gain
"If we want to get the Lord, we must make an effort—we must practise bhajan, kirtan, worship, proper behaviour, Vaishnav seva, etc. We must try our best—we must worship, arrange programmes, practise sravan and kirtan, serve, offer bhoga, practise daily well."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 3 September 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: A Private Pastime
"Gopal performed many pastimes. You all know that it is going to be Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radhika, in fifteen days. There is a story about how She appeared."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 3 September 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Eternal Pastimes
"Krishna performed so many pastimes in Nanda-gram, but Kamsa would not stop. Kamsa kept trying to kill Krishna—he had sent many demons (Aghasur, enormous Bakasur, Vatsasur, etc.), but all of them were defeated by Krishna..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 10 min | 3 September 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Adhikar For Abhisekh
"When people do Durga puja or some other pujas, they usually fast, so here too—if you are to do the abhisekh of Lord Sri Krishna in the evening, if you want to get this opportunity, you must fast the whole day; otherwise you cannot bathe the holy body of Gopal."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 3 September 2018 | Bengali)

Kirtans
• Mayura-mukuta pitambara-dhari • Jaya Radhe jaya Krsna jaya Vrndavan • He deva bhavantam vande (Krsna Vandana) • Hari Haraye Namah Krsna • Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
• Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 18 min | 3 September 2018)

"Tell me about Krishna!"
"Today is the adhivas of Sri Krishna Janmastami, it is a very good day and we must tell something about Krishna's pastimes. Who knows Krishna? Only Krishna's parsad (associate), can understand Krishna's lila."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 13 August 2009)

Dear and Dearmost
"Today we are speaking about some of Krishna's childhood pastimes. We can actually get Krishna's mercy only through devotees. We always first take shelter of our Guru's lotus feet because otherwise, without this shelter, we cannot get any connection with this line."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 13 August 2009)

Appearance of Lord Krishna
"This festival is celebrated all over the world, and you heard that even in Nabadwip Dham many people do not know about Krishna consciousness, do not know about Rupa Goswami's line, but they know Krishna and they fast the whole day and night for Krishna."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 7 min | 14 August 2009)

Emporium of All Rasa
"In Krishna-lila, everything is there—santa-, dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya-, madhura-rasa—that is why Krishna is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 20 August 2011)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Service Festival
"We should actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda. Tomorrow is actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but tomorrow we are making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Our Fortune and Focus
"We feel very fortunate today to have got a bona fide guru and we are spending this day for Lord. Many people have a holiday today and are enjoying with material things, but Krishna's devotees' enjoyment is for Krishna. That is their hope, that is their fortune."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)

Krishna—Purnatama Bhagavan
"To protect religion and destroy non-religion, the Lord comes to this world again and again in different ages. On this day, taking a human form, Krishna appears to bestow auspiciousness onto the world and rescue the fallen souls."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.1 Mb, 17 min | 28 August 2013 | Bengali)

Connect With the Centre
"We have some material desires and this is called bhava-rog (heart disease). Who can remove this disease? Who can be our doctor? Krishna can, but where will you get Krishna? You should think how many per cent you can surrender yourself. It depends on you."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 28 August 2013)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Surrender and Practise Daily
"We have to understand Krishna's Pastimes. We have to be niskama bhakta: we must have no material desire, and we must not ask Krishna for anything."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb | 18 August 2014)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Path Back to Home
"We are taking so many things, but our hunger will not finish, there will always be some material desire. But if you surrender to Krishna, to His devotee, and if you worship Krishna, if you chant the Holy Name of Krishna, you will get real benefit, you can go to your real home."
• Download / listen to the audio (10 Mb | 18 August 2014)

In honour of Sri Nandotsav:

srutim apare smrtim itare
bharatam anye bhajantu bhava-bhitah
aham iha nandam vande
yasyalinde param brahma

"Those who fear rebirth in this world may follow the advice of the Vedic scriptures—others may follow the Mahabharata—but as for me, I follow Nanda Maharaja, in whose courtyard the Supreme Absolute Truth plays as a child."

Yasoda's Darling Krishna
"You know that Krishna was born from Vasudev and Devaki, but how fortunate Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Ma are! They got Krishna as their son and could serve Krishna..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 13 August 2009)

Patita-Pavan
"We worship Lord Sri Krishna, who is so merciful, but Gauranga Mahaprabhu is even more merciful. Nityananda Prabhu said, 'Prabhu, what are you doing? If You do not rescue them, then why is Your name patita-pavan?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 6 min | 4 March 2020)

Krishna's Childhood Pastimes
"Although Krishna lived in Nanda-gram, He spent much time playing with His cowherd boyfriends in Gokul. He showed so many things in His pastimes—He played with cows and dust of Vrindavan (dhuli-khela), He ate soil, He killed demons..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 22 August 2011)

Sri Krishna Janmastami: Service Festival
"We should actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda. Tomorrow is actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but tomorrow we are making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)

Rely On Gurudev
"Gurudev is nondifferent from Krishna; at the same time Gurudev is like Radharani. Many obstacles will come in our practising life, but if we remember Krishna, if we remember our Gurudev and if we serve our Gurudev, then they must protect us."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 6 August 2002)

In honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's appearance:

namah om visnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale swami sri bhaktivedanta prabhupadaya te namah gurvajnam sirasi-dhrtva saktyavesa sva-rupine hare-krsneti mantrena pascatya-prachya-tarine visvacharya prabaryaya divya karunya murtaye sri bhagavata-madhurya-gita-jnana pradayine gaura-sri-rupa-siddhanta-saraswati nisevine radha-krsna-padambhoja-bhrngaya gurave namah "I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is Krishna's beloved associate and who came down to this plane from Goloka. Taking the order of his guru on his head, he is the saktyavesa (empowered) avatar of Nityananda Prabhu personified. He distributed the Hare Krishna mantra all over the Eastern and Western world, delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of millions of Jagad Gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of Srimad Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is like a bumble-bee always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda."

Beacon Light
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj is giving a concise account of the close relationship between Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 10 March 2016)

Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad
"Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but we are very happy and we are making today a festival for Srila Swami Maharaj, on his appearance day. Everybody must pray for his mercy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 15 August 2009)

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's Mission
"Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad has made a channel to the West, and so many devotees come now through that channel. Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but now, getting the association of international devotees, we feel very happy."

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav 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: Ohe Vaisnava Thakura | (ওহে) বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর
"O worshippable Vaishnav, ocean of grace, be merciful to this servant. Give me the shade of your feet and purify me. I clasp your feet. You can give Krishna, you have that power. Calling, 'Krishna!' 'Krishna!', I run after you."

• SONG: Ki-rupe paiba seva | কিরূপে পাইব সেবা
"I am so wicked, how will I ever get service? I do not have any attachment to Sri Guru and Vaishnavs! Prabhu, you see no fault in others, you are the saviour of the fallen. Please deliver Narottam this time!"

• 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."

Servant Consciousness
"This is the main thing that we must understand in our spiritual life. It is not necessary to be a Vaishanv—it is necessary to be a servant of a Vaishnav. Try to understand what the siddhanta, the main conception, is."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 20 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Preface
'We are happy that we have been relieved of this horrible type of malady by the mercy of His Divine Grace. He is our “eye-opener,” our eternal father, our eternal preceptor and our eternal guide. Let us therefore bow down at his lotus feet on this auspicious day.'

(16 August—18 September)

Traversing Maya-Samudra
"O Lord! I am doing so many offences—thousands of thousands of offences. I have already fallen into so much maya. I do not have any qualities—and I have no other way, I surrender to you, I am throwing myself at your feet! Please hijack me!"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Introduction
'A gentle touch of Sri Guru’s merciful hand can wipe away the incessant tears from all weeping eyes. A patriot or philanthropist makes the problem only worse in his frantic and futile attempt to alleviate the deep-rooted pain of a suffering soul, as an ignorant doctor does in eagerly handling an unfortunate patient. Oh the day when this poor soul realizes the causeless grace of Sri Gurudeva.'

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and accepting material facilities:

"One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his decision.

"My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur) always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service. That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna, not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed soldiers.'

"So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not Fast on ekadasi at all: 'Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in Vrindavan.' But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like that – it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by fasting a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your service, you may go on fasting – perhaps, your gurudev wanted that...

"For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my gurudev.'

"Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur a loss for myself, for the world, and my guru's service will be hampered. In this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krishna, for the cause of their guru, they will accept anything.

"Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then, some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be held responsible by the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit, the opportunity has been lost! Why should you not spend My money for My interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled to take something for that.

"Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is Krishna's account, and if I do not do that, I should be a separatist, a mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to Krishna, and I must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be punishable."

"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Appreciating Sadhu (1)
"You can get proper advice through good association, and you can become a proper servant of Vaishnavs through that. Without the association and advice of a proper, perfect sadhu, you cannot realise proper things. Everything comes from the sadhu."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 22 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Surrender to Sri Guru
'We must accept any way and any alliance that will help us gain entrance into that realm. We shall try to have even the slightest connection with that perfect goal of our innate aspiration. We are helpless; we are hopeless in the midst of disappointment. We are in extreme danger. We rely on our free will, our capacity of selection for our own good, but it is too minute and helpless to guide us. What danger we are in! All around us are witnesses to this danger. How important is a real guru who can guide us to our real welfare.'