Appreciating Sadhu (2)
"Maybe somebody's character is bad, but if they are surrendered to the Lord, you can say about them that they are a perfect sadhu because they are fully surrendered to the Lord, fully surrendered to their Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 22 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Initiation Into Transcendental Science
'Revealed truth coming uncontaminated through a particular process is parampara. We must connect with a reliable succession. Only then can we get the genuine thing. The authorized association is necessary, guru-parampara is necessary. So, before we read anyone’s book, we shall try to find out who is his guru, and from where the substance is coming down. Is it only a facade, or is there any real substance within? If we can understand that he has a relationship with a genuine sadhu, then we can give some attention to him.'

Appreciating Sadhu (3)
"I am telling to everybody—give proper respect to the sadhu, do not make any offence to the sadhu. Only a sadhu can rescue you from all kinds of bad elements—he can remove all your bad elements if you surrender to him properly."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 7 min | 22 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Descent of the Revealed Truth
'We are slaves of the truth. We are beggars for the pure current of truth that is constantly flowing: the fresh current. We are not charmed by any formality. I will bow down my head wherever I find the river of nectar coming down to me. When one is conscious that the Absolute Truth is descending to him from the highest domain, he will think, “I must surrender myself here.”'

Exclusive Mood
"A devotee's heart, their life, mind, everything is surrendered to the Lord, and they always listen to Hari-katha, Hari-kirtan—they always spend their life in sravanam, kirtanam, and they always derive pleasure from it."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 23 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

God Consciousness vs. Society Consciousness
'We need society only to help us. If our affinity to the society keeps us down, then that should be given up, and we must march on. There is the absolute consideration and the relative consideration. When they come into clash the relative must be given up, and the absolute should be accepted. If my inner voice, my spiritual conscience, decides that this sort of company cannot really help me, then I will be under painful necessity to give them up, and to run towards my destination, wherever my spiritual conscience guides me. Any other course will be hypocrisy.'

Healthy Spiritual Life
"We do not know what is good, what is bad for our spiritual life. We sometimes want to eat some other food—we sometimes want to do some material things, we want some material enjoyment, but Gurudev will never advise to do what is bad for our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 5 min | 23 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

The Original Guru
'If we are conscious of all these spiritual matters, then we can think that we have approached our gurudeva properly. What is our guru? What is his mission? It is filled with all these things. Devoid of that, what is our interest?'

Seek Sadhus' Shelter
"O Krishna! How will all those who are suffering so much from miseries caused by one's body, by the nature, and other souls, and so many problems in this mundane world be rescued from this kind of situation? — A sadhu will come for them..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 23 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

"I Command You—Become Guru!"
'Go forth and tell everyone about Krishna. Whatever you do, make them talk about Krishna, Krishna, Krishna. Save yourself, and prepare yourself for the highest goal. Whenever you meet anyone, wherever you meet anyone, only talk of Krishna. All other talks are irrelevant and redundant.'

What Are You Doing?!
"We must practise in the way that Gurudev tells us to practise. Think properly about what Gurudev tells. You are always mixing with materialists, you are always looking at ladies—what are you doing?! You are taking poison! You must avoid all this!"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 23 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

The Initiating Spiritual Master
'To become a guru, to capture the position of a guru, the respect of guru, that is one thing; to discharge the duty is another. Sincerity is necessary. This is of course difficult. There is no doubt that it is difficult; if one is unsuccessful, he will be lost, and others will also be lost.'

Mahaprabhu's Line
"Mahaprabhu is the example for us: the example of how we will practise spiritual life. Seeing His life and His teaching, we must understand clearly how we must practise spiritual life. Many obstacle will come: Maya is always ready to create obstacle and problems on our way towards spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 12 min | 24 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Separation from Sri Guru
'The disappearance of the spiritual master is mentioned in the sastra with an example. The disciple is like a lotus. The spiritual master is like the water around the lotus, just as in a pond or a lake. Your late gurudeva’s position is like water and Krishna is like the sun. As long as the lotus is floating on the water, the sun will nourish the lotus. But if the water vanishes, that very sun will burn the lotus. Without water, the Krishna sun will burn the lotus. Without the help of the guru, the disciple is nowhere.'

(16 August—18 September)

In honour of Sri Sita Thakurani:

Worshippable Sita Thakurani
"Advaita Acharya's wife, Sri Sita Thakurani, is worshipped by everyone all over the world. I have not read much about her, but we know that when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Prabhu sent her with some gifts to Jagannath Misra's house..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2020)

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: "One day shortly after Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Sri Advaita Acharya's wife, Sita Devi, who is worshipable by the whole world, took her husband's permission and went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations. When Sita Thakurani came to the house of Sachi Devi bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newborn child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Krishna of Gokula Himself. Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting. She blessed the newborn child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, 'May You be blessed with a long duration of life.' But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai."

Sri Sita Thakurani is an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi. In Dvapar-yuga, when Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj celebrated Sri Krishna's birth, she came to the house of Nanda Maharaj and gave various advice to Mother Yasoda. In the same way, in Kali-yuga, Sri Sita Thakurani also advised Sri Sachi Devi about childcare. She always stayed close to Sachi Devi and for Sachi Devi, she is worshippable. Sri Sita Thakurani is a daughter of Sri Nrisingha Bhaduri. She has a sister named Sri. Sri Bhakti-ratnakar says, "Sri Nrisingha Bhaduri was extremely happy to gift his two daughters to Sri Advaita Prabhu. The two wives of Sri Advaita Prabhu are worshippable for the entire world—they are known everywhere by the names Sri and Sita." Sri Sita Devi, being an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi, manifests herself as Sri Sita Devi and Sri Devi. Sri Sita Thakurani loved Nimai as her own son (vatsalya-rasa). She gave birth to three sons, Achyutananda, Krishna Misra and Gopal Misra, all of whom were followers of Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Sri Advaita Thakur, Sita Thakurani and Achyutananda Prabhu would come to Puri to with the Lord—Sri Sita Thakurani would always bring many edibles for the Lord at that time.

Preaching Current
"You can see these examples and understand that there are always some problems. You can see our guru-varga also. When Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur starting to preach the highest conception of Mahaprabhu, or when Bhaktivinod Thakur discovered Mahaprabhu's birthplace, so many problems came."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 24 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Nama Guru and Mantra Guru
'If we can recognize the real thing for which we are approaching the guru, then we will understand how to make the adjustment in our relationship with the siksa-guru, diksa-guru, and vartma-pradarsaka-guru. We are infinitely indebted to all our gurus. We are helpless. What can we do? They are benevolent, they are infinitely gracious, they are my guardians. I may have many guardians; they are to look after my welfare, they have not come to destroy me.'

Take Care of This Line
"I have told you some of the history of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. I am very unqualified, but Gurudev told me to take care of you all and to give what he has told me. I am paying my humble obeisance to all the devotees and requesting you to please take care of what Gurudev has told, take care of his words. This is my hope and my everything."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 24 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Instructing Spiritual Masters
'There are others also who are working, and their ideal will inspire me, although physically I am not seeing any companion or any follower with me. The inspiration of the unseen gurus will be our fare. They will inspire us to go on with the journey. Who is a guru? Only one who will exclusively guide me to Krishna and Mahaprabhu, with devotion. He is my guru, whatever he may be.'

(16 August—18 September)

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi:

Divine Guidance, Chapter 4
"We are in the group of Lalita Devi. Our prayer is that she will take us and engage us in service. We are very hopeful because Lalita Devi's mood is very open, something like that of Nityananda Prabhu. She is very affectionate with all, and she is the head of all the sakhis."

Sri Lalita Devi
"This is Uchagaon, Guru Maharaj's dearmost place. He said, 'First go to Uchagaon, then you can enter Varshana.' He explained that if you do not get the mercy of Lalita Devi, you cannot get the mercy of Srimati Radharani."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 10 min | 15 November 2012)

Kirtans at Uchagaon
• Radhe Jaya Jaya • Radhe Govinda.
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2012)

Sri Lalita Devi: Prema-Guru
The Appearance Day of she who manages the Pastimes of Sri Radha Krishna, who is able to teach Srimati Radhika, who is able to intensify the feelings of the Divine Couple, and without whose mercy we shall never be able to reach Krishna.
• Download / listen to the audio (9.5 Mb, 21 min | 12 September 2013)

Approaching, Not Encroaching
"You cannot get the darshan of Radharani, you cannot get the mercy of Radharani just by going to Vrindavan. You do not have to go and stay in Vrindavan—wherever you stay, you can serve the Lord, you can engage in His service and worship." How?
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 12 September 2013)

"Save Me, Enlist Me!"
"When will Nityananda give me some mercy and my material desires become removed from my heart?... We do not have any quality, qualification, or anything else, but on the appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi we can pray to her that she may take us into her circle and give some us service..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 12 September 2013)

Sri Lalita Devi: Our Service Line
"If you do not worship Lalita Devi properly, you will not get mercy from Srimati Radharani; if you do not serve Srimati Radharani (Gurudev, Guru Maharaj) properly, you will not get mercy from the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 September 2015)

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Srimati Radharani:

Our Lord's Beloved Power [a chapter from Affectionate Guidance]
"Today is Sri Radhastami, the Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani. The Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification."

Sri Radhastami [From Guidance, Volume 3]
'To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Krtika lived there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, worshipping the Lord. On the eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the naksatra called Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel-daughter appeared in the house of Raja Vrisabhanu, illuminating the house, the town and all the ten directions.'

2020

Sri Radhastami
"Srimati Radharani appeared in this world in Dvapar-yuga on this tithi of Sukla-astami (eighth day of the bright moon), Visakha-naksatra, in the month of Bhadra. Every year, our temples here in India and all of our temples all over the world celebrate this festival on this day..."
• Download / listen to the audio (10.2 Mb, 25 min)

Attainment of Divine Love
"Krishna and Kasna (the Lord and His devotee) are both transcendental, and the nature of the relationship between them is called devotion or divine love (prema). The devotees who take shelter of divine love always serve and love the object of their love—the Supreme Lord; the Lord also always relishes loving relationship with His exclusive devotees."
• Download / listen to the audio (10.4 Mb, 25 min)

Where Angels Fear to Tread
"In our life, there is too much much lust, too much anger, too much enjoyment, too much involvement with the material life—how do you think you will get that transcendental ecstatic taste, how do you think you will understand those paramour loving dealings? These are very high things. It is better not to read about those pastimes."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)

Sri Radha-Tattva
"You can get Krishna-prema by the mercy of Srimati Radharani. Yet people do not know what is Radha Kunda and what is Shyama Kunda. Materialists and those who are always engrossed in material enjoyment cannot understand Radha-tattva. Radha-tattva is an extremely highest topic."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min)

Perfect Service
"We must always remember Vrindavan in our hearts, that is good for us. We must always meditate on the astakaliya-lila, which means we must always keep space in our hearts so that Radha-Krishna could play there. Keep some place for Srimati Radharani, Krishna, and Gurudev in your heart, that will be a perfect service."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min)

2019

Sri Radhastami and Sons of Nectar
"If we want to see a beautiful life, a beautiful mood, beautiful character, and a happy life, then we should serve our Guru properly. It is necessary to have chastity. Without chastity, how can we assert that we are servitors of Gurudev and Guru Maharaj?"
• Download / listen to the audio (10.2 Mb, 29 min | 29 August 2019)

On the Bank of the Yamuna (6 September 2019)
"One must be ignorant to worship only Madhav. If you worship only Krishna, Gopal, it will only bolster your ego, 'Oh, I am worshipping Krishna! Who is Radharani? I am better than Radharani!' Never take association of such people who do not have any regard for the Guru."

Pure Hearts Run Behind Krishna (6 September 2019)
"If you have ego, you will never get any result. We must sweep and wipe and clean these things out of our hearts, and this does not happen externally—this dirt is removed by hearing Hari-katha. If someone poses as a Vaishnav but talks gramya-katha, then they can never be a Vaishnav."

Sri Radhastami: World Beyond Lust
"The lectures are recorded and going to be sent all over the world that is why it is necessary to say something in English. People write so much about gopis and Radharani and they enjoy with that, but what they write about Radharani and who Radharani is, is worlds apart."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 18 min | 6 September 2019 | Eng & Beng)

2018

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day in our spiritual life, and every year on this day we make a festival for Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinathjiu in Hapaniya. This place is very auspicious—it is the appearance place of our Param Gurudev."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 17 September 2018)

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (2)
"Mahaprabhu taught that from time to time one can go to the birthplace of a holy, divine personality. That is why we come here to Hapaniya, Bamunpara, and birthplaces of many other holy personalities."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 17 September 2018)

2015

Ultimate Prayer
What should we pray for on the great auspicious days like Sri Lalita Saptami and Sri Radhastami?
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 20 September 2015)

2014

Sri Radhastami Bengali Classes (2 September 2014)
Morning class and kirtans: • Download (30.7 Mb, 67 min)
Noon class and kirtans: • Download (24 Mb, 52 min)

2013

Krishna's Dearmost
"Without service to Radharani's lotus feet, no service can be possible. If, however, we can serve the associate servitors of Radharani, we can get the supreme benefit. And Gurudev is non-different from Srimati Radharani, therefore it is necessary to serve the Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 13 September 2013)

Appearance of Srimati Radhika
"She appeared on this day in Raval. Mother Kirtida and King Vrisabhanu lived in Raval, near Gokula. We often say that Varshana is the birthplace of Srimati Radharani, but they came there later—Her birthplace is in Raval..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 13 September 2013)

2012

Sri Radhastami: Do Not Cheat Yourself
"If you chant, 'Radhe, Radhe,' you will not get Radharani. It is necessary to serve Radharani, that means to serve Gurudev. Radharani's lotus feet are non-different from the lotus feet of Sri Guru. It is necessary to know what the real service is."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 23 September 2012)

2011

Sri Radhastami: Capture the Captor
"If we cannot capture Gurudev, who is nondifferent from Srimati Radharani, we cannot capture Krishna, the Lord. How can we capture Srimati Radharani? Through Her servants. We must observe this day today very carefully, very respectfully, with our heart and soul."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 5 September 2011)

Sri Radhastami: Worship with Extreme Care
"How to worship Radharani—how? Gurudev said, 'You must walk in Radharani's place on your head, not on your legs.' It is that kind of place, but how can we see it?"
• Download / listen to the audio (5.4 Mb, 16 min | 5 September 2011)

Sri Radhastami Kirtans [শ্রীশ্রীরাধাষ্টমী কীর্ত্তনগুলো ]
• Vadana • Sri Guru-charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Emona durmati samsara bhitare • Radhe jaya jaya Madhava dayite • Radha-bhajane yadi (with purport) • Radhika-charana-padma • Radha-kunda-tata • Radhe Radhe Govinda • Varaja-vipine yamuna kule (with purport and a word of caution) • Jaya Radhe jaya Krishna (with purport) • Sri Radhastakam • Jaya Radha Madhava • Hare Krishna maha-mantra and Sri Radharani's kirtan.
• Download / listen to the audio (30.3 Mb, 84 min | 6 September 2019)

• SONG: Jaya Radhe, Jaya Krishna | জয় রাধে, জয় কৃষ্ণ
"All glory to Radha, Krishna, and Vrindavan! All glory to Sri Govinda, Gopinath, and Madan Mohan! All glory to Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Govardhan Hill, the River Yamuna, and Mahavan!"

• SONG: Radha-kunda-tata | করাধাকুণ্ডতট
"...I know all these things are nourishing the pastimes of the Divine Couple, I can never leave all these things so dear to me, without them I know I'll surely die."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb)

• SONG: Radhika-charana-padma | রাধিকা চরণ পদ্ম
"The lotus feet of Sri Radha are the abode of all auspiciousness, the supreme goal of life. Without the lotus feet of Sri Radha, one will never meet Krishna. All the Vedas say that Krishna belongs to the maidservants of Sri Radha."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)

• SONG: Radha bhajane yadi | রাধা-ভজনে যদি
"If one does not develop within his heart the desire for Radha-bhajan, then his Krishna-bhajan goes for nothing. One who worships Krishna alone is ignorant. Who does not adore Sri Radha is an egotist."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)

• SONG: Radhe Radhe Govinda | রাধে রাধে গোবিন্দ
"Please may you all together give me your mercy, I am extremely wicked!"
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb)

• SONG: Varaja-vipine yamuna kule | বরজ-বিপিনে, যমুনা কুলে
"At this time, the Flute Holder (the best of the relishers of rasa) begins His rasa pastimes. When Madhava-Mohini (Sri Radha) sings, the whole world loses its soul in Her singing, but today Bhaktivinod senses some calamity as the rasa-lila broke off today without Radha."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb)

• SONG: Yadi Gaura na ha'te | যদি, গৌর না হ'ত
"If Sri Gaura had not come, what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Sri Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

Paramount Quality
"We have no quality or qualification, but we can surrender fully. If you take shelter in the guidance and at the lotus feet of such Guru (if you receive his guidance and listen to his advice or order), then Krishna cannot reject you."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 20 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

The Land of Gurus
'There may be some obstacles, but if at heart we are sincere, the environment cannot deceive us, because God’s inner help is there, cooperating with our sincere, inner need. What we want from our innermost hearts cannot but come true, because Krishna knows everything. There may be some obstacles but, by Krishna’s help, they shall all be eliminated and our innermost aspiration will be crowned with success.'

(16 August—18 September)

Damodar Month
"This Kartik month (Damodar month) is Krishna's dearmost month. There is Radha-Damodar temple near our Vrindavan temple and every Kartik we go for parikrama in Vrindavan. This year also we have a great wish to start Vrindavan parikrama in Damodar month."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Servant of the Servant
'Bhakta-puja, worship of the devotees, is advocated everywhere. At the same time we should try to understand who is a devotee. That is also to be ascertained. What is the sign of a real devotee?'

Damodarastakam
"We sing Damodarastakam about the pastimes of the Lord written by Satyavrata Muni every Kartik month. That is a very important song in our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

Lives of the Saints
'Although sometimes we may judge Vaishnavas according to their different activities, we are not always correct, because a devotee is chosen for a particular service by the Lord, and whatever the Lord wants to do through him is done by His will. This is the underlying principle: it is His selection. We should not judge the position of a Vaishnava by the magnitude of his external activities alone. Of course, we cannot ignore the service rendered by a devotee. That is a noble thing, that is a great thing, but ultimately the key is in the hand of the Lord, ekala isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya.'

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)

In honour of Lord Vamanadev's appearance:

• Lord Vamandev
"Vamandev was a son of Aditi and Kasyap Rishi. Aditi was very sad because all of her sons had left the heaven because of the torturing of the demons, that is why Vamandev came to her womb. On the other side, there was Bali Maharaj..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 3 October 2015)

Lord's Avatar
"It is a very auspicious day today because it is Vamandev's avirbhav. Every year on this dvadasi, we first perform archan for Vamandev, then offer some sweet rice, and with that sweet rice prasadam we do the paran (break our fast) on the dvadasi day...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 30 August 2020 | Bengali&English)

Kasyap Rishi's Advice to Aditi Mata
"Only those who forgot Krishna have this kind of intelligence, this kind of sense that they think, 'He is bad, he is good.' If we have any relation with the Lord, then we will have no enemies. Kasyap Rishi advised his wife Aditi, 'Reject that which is imaginary, which is lies, and worship the Lord.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)

Appearance of Lord Vamanadev
"The proper time came and the Lord appeared first in the heart of Kasyap Rishi and then came to the womb of Aditi Mata. When the Lord Himself entered her womb, Brahma and all demigods began to pray to the Lord showing a very exalted mood. Everything around became very auspicious..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min)

Satisfying the Lord
"Bali Maharaj asked Vamanadev, 'O brahman, what do you want? Tell me, and I can give You anything you wish.' Vamanadev replied, 'I do not want much. I know you have everything but I want only something small.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min)

In honour of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu:

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
"I have no power to say what kind of devotion to his Guru Jiva Goswami had. Jiva Goswami's service cannot be compared to anyone's service. Whatever order he would get, he would place it on his head and do it all the time—his mind never went to any other place."
• Download / listen to the audio (8 Mb, 23 min | 2012)

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu: The All-Rounder
"Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu did everything alone—he cooked, did puja, cleaned the temple, brought water from the Yamuna, and also did personal service to his Guru. He was busy with his service from morning to night, and did everything alone."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 9 September 2011)

Early Pastimes of Srila Jiva Goswami
"Although Jiva Goswami was a very small baby, when he saw Mahaprabhu's beauty, he keep it in his heart and always thought about it—whether he slept, ate, or was awake, he all the time was thinking about the beauty of Mahaprabhu. When he was studying later, he always thought about Gaura Nitai's form, Gaura Nitai's beauty and pastimes."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 30 August 2020)

Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's Mercy
"We are giving our full obeisance to him from here. We pray to his lotus feet, 'We are fallen souls, Prabhu, we have no quality, no qualification. Wherever you are staying now, Prabhu, please make us your foot dust and keep us under your feet.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 30 August 2020)

• Protected Journey
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the pranam-mantra of Srila Jiva Goswami in the book Dignity of the Divine Servitor: "I offer my full dandavats unto the lotus feet of Srila Jiva Goswami who is the protector of our spiritual life. He rescues us from the whole illusory environment..."

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."

In honour of Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur:

The Seventh Goswami [By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
A summary account of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's service, life, and character. Originally published as an introduction to the first edition of Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya published as The Hidden Treasure of the Holy Dhama Nabadwipa.

On the Appearance Day of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
"In this world there is no comparison or substitute to Srila Bhakti Vinod's unparalleled gift. He appeared on today's date. Thus this day is also supremely worshippable, desirable, and merciful. I have no gift with which I worship this great day..."

Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Our Line Is Nothing
"Today is the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur—he left us and entered his nitya-lila on this day. He is doing service in his abode now, but he is still bestowing his mercy on all devotees and on us. We cannot even think of our line without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is the main personality in our line."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 21 June 2020)

Appearance of Universal Guru
"You all know who is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is there in our guru-parampara. Our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj wrote his pranam mantra, and everything is there in that mantra..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 30 August 2020)

শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির (স্বানন্দ-সুখদা-কুঞ্জ) (শ্রীনবদ্বীপধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা)
"শ্রীল গুরুদেবের কৃপায়, সমস্ত ভক্তিবৃন্দের কৃপায় আমাদের শ্রীচৈতন্য সারস্বত মঠ (আন্তর্জাতিক) পরিক্রমা সঙ্ঘ এখন শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির ও সমাধি-মন্দিরে এসেছে । এই গৃহে শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুর থাকতেন ও ভজন করতেন ।"

Online Assembly of Dham-Bhusana Vaishnavs
"We have got an opportunity to speak and hear about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur in this class amidst the pandemic situation through the medium of zoom. Today is a very auspicious day, and we have all gathered here today to observe this holy day..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 31 August 2020)

Speech at Sri Surabhi Kunja
"Today is a very good day—the holy appearance day of Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. We have assembled here at this festival hosted by the Saraswata Gaudiya Vaishnav Sangha on this lunar day at Surabhi Kunja every year since 1996. This year too we have all assembled here on this very occasion..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 12 min | 22 September 2018 | Bengali)

Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur (7 September 2014)
"Unless you have no ego, unless you reject jealousy, you cannot understand what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given to us. Only a rupanuga (follower of Srila Rupa Goswami) can understand the glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, otherwise it is impossible."

Extraordinary Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
"Devotion is akinchana-guhya-vidya (sacred education, para-vidya, suddha-saraswati), and he who enhances devotion, its beauty and charm and distributes it to us is called Bhaktivinod Thakur. It is his appearance day that we are celebrating today."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 13 min | 7 September 2014)

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
"If Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had not come in this world, where, in whose lotus feet would we have found our shelter? He gave us all these things and he gave us Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. If you think about it, you can understand how much he gave to the jiva souls..."
• Download the audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min | 3 October 2015)

Recognising Guru: What Is Your Obstacle?
"Brother, you see Bhakti Vinod Thakur as your father, but I see him as my spiritual master. That is the difference. What you see is a father (baba), and that is the obstacle (badha) that prevents you from getting Radharani (Radha)."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 24 February 2013)

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Early Association
"Once, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur met a siddha Raghunath Das Babaji Mahasay. Raghunath Das Babaji did not like to mix with Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and also told others not to mix with him, however later he understood who Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 12 September 2019)

The Worship of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
[Sri Gaudiya Darshan, by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur did so much seva for the sampradaya of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived during a very heavy time period. He was a very exclusive devotee of Mahaprabhu and specifically worshipped Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhar...."

Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
A Bengali class on the holy appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur spoken in 2014 by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.
• Download / listen to the audio (18.5 Mb, 41 min | 7 September 2014)

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"...Their dear follower is Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. His associate is the best of the topmost devotees, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji, whose sole joy is Sri Hari's service."

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."

In honour of Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur:

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day—a grand festival in honour of Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance day. How great his glory is! Haridas Thakur was Mahaprabhu's companion in the preaching of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 12 September 2019)

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (2)
"When prasadam came from Jagannath temple, Govinda would serve it to Mahaprabhu, and every evening, when Mahaprabhu went to bed and Svarup Damodar, Ray Ramananda returned to their own places, Govinda would take that prasadam for Srila Haridas Thakur. That was the routine every day. One day, however..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5 Mb, 14 min | 12 September 2019)

Srila Haridas Thakur's Niryan
"Everybody must remember the three wishes of Srila Haridas Thakur. 'I want to keep Your lotus feet in my heart, to see Your lotus face with my eyes, and with my my mouth, I want to chant Your name. This is my only hope and prayer...'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 3 October 2015)

Withdrawal of Srila Haridas Thakur
"On this day Mahaprabhu gave a great festival for Haridas Thakur; on this day Haridas Thakur left this world. Actually, Haridas Thakur is always with us—he did not leave this world, only his body left..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 11 September 2011)

Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur (24 September 2009)
The sad and loving Pastime of the Lord and His devotee, Namacharya Haridas Thakur: "Prabhu, do not give me Maya. I know you love me so much, that is why I do not want to hear from You any further. Please give me some mercy—I want to go before You. Please, Prabhu, fulfil my desire."

• 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: 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."

Siksastakam
"We are singing the Siksastakam songs every day [in Kartik month]. Mahaprabhu is Radha-Krishna's combined form and Siksastakam is His teaching. It is very nice. We must practise these songs."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

• SRI GURU AND HIS GRACE •

The Line of Sri Rupa
'Our father has left us with so many important documents about the properties we are to inherit. As minors, we should try to find out what properties belong to us in those documents. When we come of age, then we shall take possession of our rightful inheritance. The raganuga-sastra, the scriptures of spontaneous devotional love, has been given to us, left to us, by our guru, our guardian, our father. And as we grow more and more in the spiritual line, we will have to detect what is our prospect, what is our real wealth. We must recover that.'

Download (epub)
Download (pdf)
Download (BENGALI)

Establishing Faith
"Krishna gave us this human body to serve, to come to Krishna consciousness, to chant the Holy Name of the Lord, to serve to Gurudev and to be established in our faith in our Gurudev and all the Vaishnavs. If you have faith, then the strongest faith is necessary."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 26 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Introduction
'The title of this book is The Golden Volcano of Divine Love. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu felt a great pain of separation from Krishna which burned like fire and was expressed as the Siksastakam. He was vomiting the fire of painful separation from Krishna in the form of the Siksastakam. Therefore, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is compared to a golden volcano and the Siksastakam is compared to divine lava.'

In honour of Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj:

His Divine Grace Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

"When Kunja Babu [later, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj] came to meet Srila Prabhupad, Srila Prabhupad could recognise that this young man would be able to help him a great deal. Our Guru Maharaj's nature was like that of a philosopher—he did not like to mix with the public, but Kunja Babu filled that side as he could mix with public and bring persons to Srila Prabhupad, enabling thus Srila Prabhupad to speak about the sastra. Srila Prabhupad wanted to speak about Mahaprabhu, but his temperament was such that he did not like to become involved with inviting people and taking responsibility for looking after them or their accommodation, feeding, etc. So, when Kunja Babu joined, he took up that responsibility. Srila Prabhupad got educated society ready to hear his speech about Mahaprabhu, and his style of speaking was a little philosophical, so he preferred educated society as his listeners. Kunja Babu did that service—he took the trouble of inviting, accommodating, and feeding the public. All these troublesome burdens were taken on by Kunja Babu.

"Gaudiya Mission had gradually grown from this combination—the material help of Kunja Babu and the spiritual work of Srila Prabhupad. They were the father and the mother of the mission, the cofounders of Gaudiya Math. The practical, material side of the service was done by Kunja Babu. Srila Prabhupad once said in Benares (I heard it directly from his mouth), 'I only want a good audience, and Kunja Babu has done that service to me the best. Amongst all my disciples, Kunja Babu has served me the best by bringing to me a good audience. I only want a good audience, nothing else, in this world, and in that direction, Kunja Babu has helped me greatly.'

"In the end, Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's order was to form a governing body of ten or twelve, and Kunja Babu had to manage as long as he lived. 'Kunja Babu's intelligence excells that of all,' this was told about him. We took it as Kunja Babu was the manager during Prabhupad's lifetime, but he was actually managing the whole institution, so he should be respected even though he was a grihastha and we were sannyasis. Later, many complaints were heard against him, but Srila Prabhupad had told us that Kunja Babu had to manage as long as he lived and that he should be respected. Srila Prabhupad did not select anyone as his follower acharya, that is why there was eventually a difference of opinion amongst us. There were also many ambitious sannyasis who were eager to go on as acharyas themselves. There were generally two parties, one accepting Vasudev Prabhu as the acharya, and the other one accepting Kunja Babu..."

His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj:

"Sri Bimala Prasad got initiation from Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj and later, when he took sannyas, he became known as Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. At some point, he promised that he would complete chanting one hundred crores Holy Names and after that start preaching Mahaprabhu's proper conception, but as he was chanting the Holy Name, one day Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Giridhari came in front of him and Srimati Radharani said, 'You must preach pure conception of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the combined form of Radha-Krishna.' Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, 'I am alone, how will I preach?' After that so many great scholars (dig-pals) came to help him—our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj and many others. This is how Prabhupad started preaching the proper conception in this world.

"In Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswat Thakur's time, the secretary of Chaitanya Math was a grihastha, his name is Kunja Bihari Prabhu (affectionately known as Kunja Babu), later he became Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj. Kunja Babu could not always stay at the temple, but he always served Chaitanya Math from his householder life. Moreover, when he would come to visit Chaitanya Math, to see Prabhupad, at that time almost all sannyasis would give him their full obeisance."

Maintaining Legacy
"There are certain things that have to be maintained and that are necessary for a practitioner's life, and you must follow these things properly. I am happy with all the devotees and I am trying to keep the Mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math as it was before."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min | 26 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

The Golden Avatar
'That incarnation is generally worshipped by sankirtana. Without sankirtana, Gauranga and His paraphernalia cannot be worshipped. He is the propounder of sankirtana, He loves sankirtana, and He gets satisfaction only by sankirtana. Only those who have sufficient merit (sukrtivan), will worship Him by this process.'

Beyond Ego and Prejudice
"We pray all the devotees of Chaitanya Saraswat Math will come again. I know some are a little disheartened, some want to stay alone, some live in a family as householders, but we do not look who is a householder, who is a brahmachari, who is a sannyasi."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 8 min | 26 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

A Mysterious Incarnation
'At that time, while listening to the explanation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sarvabhauma gradually saw that he was losing his position. His pride was finished. Astounded, he thought, “This youth, this young boy, is not an ordinary person."'

Honest Surrender
"Surrender comes through faith, and it is the most important thing for our spiritual life. When you surrender fully, do not take anything on your shoulder—give everything to your Guru, to your Lord—then you will see how happy you will be if you do that."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.4 Mb, 12 min | 27 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Friend of the Fallen
'If we neglect Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our aspiration to serve Radha-Govinda will be a dream, an abstract imagination without reality. Nityananda Prabhu is the refuge of all fallen souls. He is the most generous-hearted aspect of guru-tattva; we must bow down our head to Him, accept His holy feet, and surrender to Him.'

Surrendered Soul's Stance
"It is not necessary to be a pujari—if we can become a dog of the Deities, that is sufficient for us. You can tie me and keep me near You, and I will not allow anybody who is against You to come close to You without Your permission. That will be my duty. I will honour the remnants of Your dearmost devotees."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 27 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Mad Nimai Pandit
'This intense degree of divine madness was exhibited by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His last days on this Earth. But even in His life in Nabadwip, when Mahaprabhu was the great boy-scholar Nimai Pandit, everyone thought He had become mad after He had returned from Gaya and had begun showing signs of devotion to Krishna.'

Pure Principles
"Mahaprabhu is the Lord Himself, but He served others and practised Krishna consciousness strictly—He preached very strictly and followed all rules and regulations very strictly. We should learn from our Gurudev, we should learn from our Guru-varga."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 9 min | 27 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

A Tragedy of Separation
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sannyasa is apparently very cruel to His devotees, and to His family members, but it was meant only to take us to our home. We must return back to Godhead, back to home. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “Your home is a beautiful land. You must try for that. Why are you always troubled with the horrors of war, epidemic, earthquake, undesirable disease, stealing, dacoiting, and fighting with so many neighbors? At the bottom of all this is the fact that you have identified yourself with this material world and this body of flesh and blood. You have to retrace your path and go back to your home.”'

En Route to Dvaraka
"I am speaking now from the train because this is an almost three-day journey from Kolkata to Dvaraka. I myself have never actually been to Dvaraka, but this year devotees told me, 'Maharaj, we want to go to Dvaraka with you,' that is why we have arranged some programme and going there now with more than two hundred devotees; but our main spiritual things, our target is always Vrindavan and Govardhan."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 31 October 2018)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

The Holy Name of Krishna
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the pioneer of Sri Krishna sankirtana. He said, “I have come to inaugurate the chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna, and that name will reach every nook and corner of the universe.” What are the different stages through which we will pass while chanting the Holy Name of Krishna?'

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Unlimited Names of God
'Sriman Mahaprabhu says, “O Lord, You have given everything from Your side to lift me up from this mundane world of relativity. Your attempt to deliver me is so magnanimous that all You require from me is a little cooperation in accepting Your grace, but I turn a deaf ear to Your magnanimous call. O Lord, I am hopeless.”'

"Guru is the divine messenger of immortal hope and joy in this mortal and miserable world. His advent is the most auspicious and happy event to the suffering animation and can be compared to the rising of the morning star that can guide the traveller lost in the desert. A gentle touch of Sri Guru's merciful hand can wipe away the incessant tears from all weeping eyes. Oh the day when this poor soul realises the causeless grace of Sri Gurudev."

(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Sri Guru and His Grace)

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

Dear Devotees, Friends, and Well-Wishers,

Please accept our humble obeisance at your holy feet.

Bowing down at your holy feet, we would like to extend a humble and earnest invitation to your holy self to join the grand celebration of the divine appearance day of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Sri Srimad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj that manifests this year on 3 October 2024 (Thursday).

Considering the irrevocably calamitous circumstances we are placed in following the disappearance of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma, we pray to be able to observe this day immersed in Sri Hari-katha, Hari-kirtan, and Hari-seva, which are so extremely dear to our Sri Gurupadpadma, who continues to guide, protect and watch over us, albeit unseen to our mundane vision.

On this holy day, as far as possible, please join and render assistance to the festivals observed in your communities and focus eternally in your lives on contributing the core ingredient of every service endeavour—your entire being, mind, heart and soul. In the words of His Divine Grace, "Gurudev's lila is going on, but only the fortunate souls can see it, that is why we must engage everybody in service on his appearance day. Whatever capacity we have—in kaya, mana, vakya (body, mind and speech)—we must serve his appearance day."

Taking your foot dust on our heads, we humbly pray that this supremely worshippable divine appearance day of Sri Gurupadpadma, celebrated with much joy and grandeur by the fortunate souls throughout the entire creation, may pass auspiciously in every house and heart.

Your aspiring servants,
on behalf of SCSMathInternational.com

Satisfying the Lord
"Bali Maharaj asked Vamanadev, 'O brahman, what do you want? Tell me, and I can give You anything you wish.' Vamanadev replied, 'I do not want much. I know you have everything, but I want only something small.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 30 August 2020)

In honour of the forthcoming divine appearance day of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

The last recorded Hari-katha and Guidance of Sri Gurupadpadma:

Take Care of Yourself [Part 1 | 2 May 2021]
"...This is the situation now—we must all be careful. We must chant more and more, we must preach more and more, and we must practise more and more. Always continue following all the rules and regulations—we must distribute the teachings that we have got from our Gurudev to others."

Sadhus' Fight [Part 2 | 2 May 2021]
"This is a battlefield. We will not run away from the battlefield—we will always stand and fight against Maya. You can see everywhere that finally demons are always defeated by the sadhu. Om is always at the side of a sadhu. Please you all take care yourself. In this situation, everybody should practise on their own, do not be disheartened."

Be Exclusive, One-Pointed [Part 3 | 2 May 2021]
"If you think about good things, then all bad things will automatically be removed from you. Do not worry so much about this. When you think some anartha is coming, you must give more and more attention to practising—concentrate your mind on practising."

2010

My Joy and My Plight
"I have never wanted this—that I would sit in one place and everybody would come, pay obeisance to me. Never. I want to go and chant and dance everywhere, preach in the villages—this is my life. It is impossible for me, it is actually an austerity for me, but I have to keep Gurudev's word."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 8 min | 8 October 2010)

"I Need Your Mercy!"
"I am here today to get your mercy—I am here today to worship you, I have not come to take worship. I only want to serve the Vaishnavs, I have no other desire. I do not want anybody to do my puja, I want to serve you all."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 8 min | 8 October 2010)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Humbler Than a Blade of Grass
'We should mainly couch ourselves in this mood: we should think of ourselves as the meanest of the mean. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given his analysis of the meaning of this verse as follows: even a blade of grass has its value, but we do not even have as much value as a blade of grass. We have no positive value.'

In honour of the forthcoming divine appearance day of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

2011

Sri Vyasa Puja Day: A Happy Day
"Today is a very happy day for me: everybody is giving their mercy to me. Also, I can see all the devotees today, they are happily enjoying the programme and glorifying Gurudev. That is my thing—I do not want my glorification, I always want to glorify my Guru."
• Download (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

Fending Maya Off: Nourish Others, Protect Yourself
"Call devotees and bring them to the temple, help them keep connection. Maya is very powerful, but when devotees are with devotees, maya always runs away. We must worry about our quality. We can be small, but our line should be perfect."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min)

Kirtans
Vandana • Gurudev krpa bindu diya • Oh vaisnava thakura dayara sagara • Akrodha paramananda Nityananda Ray • Avatara sara Gora avatara • Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
• Download / listen to the audio (6.6 Mb, 20 min)

My Great Fortune and Hope
"Actually I do not know when my birth day is, but Gurudev told me, 'This is your birth day,' and that is why devotees celebrate this day. Celebrating means what? Celebrating means devotees are giving mercy to me on this day and I am becoming indebted to them."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min)

Sankirtan Yajna—Soul of Preaching
"Where it is allowed, you must do sankirtan in the street—there may be only five of you, but if you do sankirtan, people will come, even birds, beasts, trees will get benefit through your kirtan. If you sit in your house, no one will come—start the fire, wind will come."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 28 September 2011)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Unalloyed Devotion
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “I have no attraction for any of these things, but only for You, my Lord. I don’t even aspire after liberation. I will not even ask, “Give me liberation, for, being liberated, I will be able to serve You better.” That sort of condition must not be placed on divinity. This is the purest of prayers.'

King of the Land of Love
'“I cannot indulge myself in thinking that I possess such fortune that I may be considered an inseparable part of You. I am a separable part, but I also want Your grace. Please be kind upon me; I invoke Your mercy for a special grant. Accept me in any position in Your connection—even the lowest position. At least this must be sanctioned. Consider me a particle of dust at Your feet. This is my prayer.”'

In honour of the forthcoming divine appearance day of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

2013

Sri Vyasa Puja Day: My Mood and Request
"Every day is a service day for me, but today is the day when I must serve devotees more. I do not know how much I can surrender, but Gurudev made me his dog, and that is why I am serving as his dog—I am still serving and protecting the temple as a dog..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 6 October 2013)

Sri Vyasa Puja Day: Appreciating Mercy
"You have already got it from Gurudev. We have lost our address and Krishna sent Gurudev to take us to our address. So, we already understand what is our real home. Always be successful in your spiritual life, always proceed in your spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 6 October 2013)

Sri Vyasa Puja Day: My Only Prayer
"I am very happy to see you all. You are celebrating this festival, but actually for me this day is not a day to take puja from others, but today is the day when I must give puja to all the devotees..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 6 October 2013)

2014

Part 1: How to See the Guru: Mercy
Clear guidance on how to understand who the Guru is, and how a sincere disciple should see the Guru: the Guru is not only a mahabhagavata (a great devotee), he is nondifferent from Krishna Himself.
• Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 14 min | 25 September 2014)

Part 2: How to See the Guru: Chastity
The main quality of a sincere disciple explained by several examples: one-pointed attention, rejecting the unfavourable, intense attachment to service and devotees, faith, and careful choice of association.
• Download / listen to the audio (7 Mb, 15 min | 25 September 2014)

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)

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Hankering for Perfection
'In this verse, the devotee’s prayer has been granted and he has acquired a position in Krishna’s domain. Now his ambition has no end. Although he is posted in a safe position, he is again praying for further promotion.'

Forever Without You
'In this verse, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describes how a devotee goes further, awakens a higher conception of Krishna, and then, seeing Krishna just before him but not getting Him, feels this kind of separation. The more he progresses, the more he finds himself in this position of hopelessness.'

In honour of the forthcoming divine appearance day of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

2015

12 October 2015 (Adhivas)

Sri Vyasa Puja, Adhivas Day (Bengali; the English is translation below)
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is speaking on the eve of His Divine Appearance Day.
• Download / listen to the audio (32.5 Mb, 95 min)

Your Fortune, My Fortune
"You have assembled here today for this occasion to give mercy to a fallen soul like myself. I feel humbled and very fortunate. It is very difficult to get the darshan of Vaishnavs. When I am giving initiation, do you know what I am remembering?..."

Be Conscious and Cautious
"To live eternally in Vraja, you must enter a relationship with your Guru, after that if you practise, you can understand your destination. How can we make Gurudev happy? If we can understand it step by step, then we will be able to understand the main teaching."

Greatness Is Not Measured by Cloth
"Religion means we must bring the jiva souls to Krishna consciousness. Gurudev gave this duty to me, and this is not only my responsibility, it is your responsibility too. Gurudev said, 'One does not become a sannyasi just by wearing a sannyasi's clothes.'"

Surrender: Eye-Opener
"'Do you not know who this is? Can you not recognise Him? He is the Guru of all, He is Lord Krishna Himself! He has come to this world to awaken the souls. He took sannyas from Keshav Bharati.' Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya did not believe it."

Mercy Means Anugatya
"It is necessary to always think about the order of your Guru. Guru's mercy means following the order of the Guru—if you follow the order of your Guru, then you get his mercy. You can go to the market, buy chanting beads and chant on them—but it is not the same."

Neither Cry nor Laugh
"You must ask yourself first, 'Do you love yourself or your Guru more? Do you love the Lord or yourself more?' Examine yourself. How long will you sleep in the lap of Maya? How long will you choke and struggle in the waters of Maya?"

Pure Current
"This Name was chanted in many villages, but with offence, and Bhaktivinod Thakur, holding the current of devotion, preached the pure Holy Name to this world just as Maharaj Bhagirath brought the Ganges to this world."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Union in Separation
'We may be giving our best and find that our offering is being hatefully dishonored. He may embrace us, but at the same time we must be prepared that His dealings may be extremely cruel. He may trample all our offerings beneath His feet. We must be prepared for both His adoration and His hateful negligence. We should be prepared for any adverse circumstances.'

In honour of the forthcoming divine appearance day of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

2017

My Service Day
"I am always with the devotees, I am always thinking about the devotees and I am always thinking about Gurudev. Actually, this day is my service day. I must serve my Gurudev more, I want to serve the devotees—this is how I want to celebrate this day. This is my happiness."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.5 Mb, 1 min | 20 September 2017)

2018

Meaning of Guru Puja
"We must understand the meaning of 'guru-puja.' If you only offer some arati to Gurudev, this is not guru-puja. Guru-puja means guru-seva. We must always think, "How can I please my Guru? What does Gurudev want? What does he like?" We must understand this and fulfil Gurudev's most cherished desires."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | Bengali | 9 October 2018)

Key to Guru Puja
"Gurudev had explained and taught me that when you make a festival not much is necessary—a festival means Vaishnav seva, bhakta-seva. Guru-seva is not engaging your Guru in service—it means serving your Guru, serving his devotees."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | Bengali | 9 October 2018)

Service Consciousness
"If we always practise and if we always serve Vaishnavs, then we can become worthy of a particle of dust from the lotus feet of Vaishnavs—that is sufficient for us. If you fast and offer some flower to your Guru but do not take part in service—it means you think about yourself, not about others."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | Bengali | 9 October 2018)

Sri Vyasa Puja Speech
"Actually, all the devotees have come here from all over Bengal and many countries also and they are celebrating my birthday, but I am not thinking about my birthday because I do not want to take any puja from devotees. I always want to be servitors' servitor, I do not want to take any service from others."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.5 Mb, 16 min | 10 October 2018)

Servitor's Livelihood
"Everything we have actually comes from our Guru. Without Gurudev's mercy we are nothing, we have no power. We are only instruments. I do not think that I am a Vaishnav, nor do I want to be a Vaishnav. I want to be a servant of the servant of Vaishnavs. That has been my desire from the beginning, since the time I started my temple life in 1992."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 12 October 2018)

On Chastity
"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj had many qualified scholarly pandit disciples, but he chose Gurudev. You can read many scriptures many times, you may know many things, but the Guru can understand who can follow his conception, who has chastity for him."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 6 min | 12 October 2018)

Mercy of Guru
"Without the mercy of the Guru, without the instruction of the Guru you cannot cross, you cannot overcome the illusory environment. We must understand clearly what is the mercy of the Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 12 October 2018)