Price of Mercy
"There are things that money cannot buy. You can never buy love and affection with money. The kind of mercy of Gurudev you will get depends on your devotion, your faith. If you always think about yourself, you will not understand it. If you cannot sacrifice your life properly for the service to your Guru, then what kind of surrender have you done?"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 7 min | 12 July 2020)

• HEART AND HALO •

(3) THE REAL JUDGMENT OF LOVE
'Love is wonderfully above everything, surpassing all. Mahaprabhu asked us to accept the path of love, which means giving one’s heart, one’s self. It is so powerful, nothing else can attract Krishna. He is very greedy to eat this love, this prema. He lives on prema. He is the Lord of love. That love has its inner existence; it is the inner existence of all of us. He is Love personified, and there is a tinge within us also; and like ‘birds of a feather,’ love likes love.'

Disciples' Plight
"We have taken initiation from Gurudev, but we do not know what the relation between a Guru and a disciple should be like. You must sacrifice your life for your Gurudev, for your Gurudev's mission, and your Gurudev's devotees. If you can give your life for all this, then you can be considered a proper disciple of your Gurudev."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.4 Mb, 11 min | 12 July 2020)

• HEART AND HALO •

(4) DELUSION, DIVINITY AND THE REAL DEVOTEE
'Step by step we must approach the highest point. It is not mental concoction, imitation. Imitation is the worst. It is hateful, filthy. If in the name of that higher love we represent this fleshy connection with the body and the mind—then that is the most hateful thing. We must try to avoid it with our utmost will and energy.'

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)

• 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..."

About Sri Jagadish Pandit:

Sri Jagadish Pandit
"Born in Guwahati, Assam, Sri Jagadish Pandit came to live in Nabadwip. Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya lived together on the bank of the Gages near Sri Jagannath Misra's house, and Mahaprabhu would often come to visit them."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb, 11 min | 24 January 2021)

"Jagadish Pandit was formerly a great dancer in Krishna-lila and was known as Chandrahasa. He belonged to the village of Yasada-gram, in the district of Nadia near the Chakadaha railway station. His father, the son of Bhatta Narayan, was named Kamalaksa. Both his father and mother were great devotees of Lord Visnu, and after their death, Jagadish, with his wife Duhkhini and brother Mahesa, left his birthplace and came to Sri Mayapur to live in the company of Jagannath Misra and other Vaisnavas. Lord Chaitanya asked Jagadish to go to Jagannath Puri to preach the Harinam sankirtan movement. After returning from Jagannath Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannath he established Deities of Jagannath in the village of Yasada-gram."

"Sri Jagadish is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (192) as follows: 'Sri Jagadish and Hiranya previously appeared as the wives of the yajnic brahmans of Vraja. The Lord asked for the grains they offered to Vishnu on the day of Ekadasi. Chandrahasa, the expert dancer and knower of the mellows of Vraja, has now appeared as Sri Jagadish Pandit.' Sri Nityananda Prabhu with His associates are the life and wealth of the most effulgent Sri Jagadish Pandit."

Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya Pandit—lived in Godrumadwip. Their house was some distance from the Lord's house. On the day of Ekadasi they arranged a large offering for the Lord. The injunction for fasting on Ekadasi is meant only for the living entities, but Lord Vishnu is beyond the jurisdiction of the rules and regulations that He has established. Since He is not bound to observe fast on Ekadasi, and since He alone is the enjoyer of all sacrificial offerings, all types of foodstuffs should be offered to Him on Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi the Vaisnavs give up all kinds of enjoyment and do not accept the injunction for honoring prasada as on other days, but Lord Sri Hari, the protector of the devotees, accepts the foodstuffs offered by His devotees on His day, Hari-vasara. Sri Gaura-Narayan also revealed His desire to eat those foodstuffs.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

Plane of Adherence
"Always leave everything to the Lord—whatever His desire is, that will happen. No one can stop it. It is not necessary to be afraid. If we surrender ourselves to the Guru, to the Lord, then we will have no problem."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 12 July 2020)

• HEART AND HALO •

(5) TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE
'Sometimes we may be misguided to believe that we must not study the devotional books, thinking: “To analyse, to know, that is not part of devotion. That is not necessary; it is knowledge, jnana, and that is anti-devotion.” Thinking in this way we will go on taking the Holy Name, and wherever there is some explanation being given about the devotional school, we will try to avoid it. But that is not always best, because by hearing from the proper source we get the kind of knowledge that gives us impetus to go on in our sadhana.'

'How Much Do You Hanker In Your Heart?'
"It is not necessary to show your devotion externally. Always keep your devotion in your heart. We are not going to talk in a public place about how we worship and how we practise. How much do you hanker within yourself, in your heart? That is the question..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 12 July 2020)

• HEART AND HALO •

(6) THE SWEETEST STRUGGLE
'So everywhere there is struggle: where there is life, there is struggle. Where there is progress there is struggle; and where there is lila, play, there is struggle, though of a different kind. One is sweet, the other painful. In the lower stage it is a little painful for us to cut the tie of attraction to this world; but when some permanent relationship is established with the upper world, when we have regained that, then to move forward is happy. Progress means a struggle.'

No Hopscotchy Devotion
"You can worship Lord Siva, but do not come to Lord Siva with your material things. We must give honour and worship Krishna's expansions, there is nothing bad about it. Devotees should know everything—we cannot jump immediately to Krishna."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 10 min | 12 July 2020)

• HEART AND HALO •

(7) HEART AND HALO
'We must accept revealed truth and bid farewell to so-called scientific knowledge and other kinds of perceptions, which are all erroneous, based on false experience and false information. “It belongs to me; it belongs to him; it belongs to them”: this calculation is all false. So we have to be relieved, we have to get wholesale relief from this mania, this misconception. And not only must we get relief from the misconception, from misunderstanding the external waves, but we must attain a positive position, to learn to understand the wave, the vibration of Goloka.'

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Simple Service, Earnest Heart
"It is necessary to have the strongest faith. You cannot see everything with your eyes. We will serve Mahaprabhu, devotees, our Guru, and whether they accept it or not, that is up to them. Simple things are sufficient for us."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 12 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

INTRODUCTION
'Several books extracted from the many hours of Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s recorded informal talks have already been presented to the public. This Divine Aspiration continues the series. Perhaps, however, the subject matter selected here addresses the more practical concerns of the spiritual aspirant, as well as focusing on the progressive awakening of his inner consciousness through the process of selection and elimination.'

(1) THE WORSHIP OF THE PURE HEART
'In Prahlad Maharaj, and others, we see such an attitude: “Dangers may come, at their wish, with their extreme power to disturb me; I don’t care.” So, wherever my karma may take me, even to the body of bird or beast, I won’t pray to Krishna for favourable circumstances. I shall utilise my energy best only towards Him. I shall only want from Him: “Your sweet will may be victorious. You can make or mar. You can kill me or save me. If it is necessary for Your sweet enjoyment to kill me, You can do that. I am a slave and You have every right over me, to do anything and everything.” With this conception in the background we have to make our approach towards Him, and that will be of the highest quality. Our bhajan should be in this line.'

Debunking Proximity Complex
"If you become too familiar with the Guru, you can make more offences. It is very difficult to avoid it. Association means a heart-to-heart connection. It is not a bodily association. We always give honour to Gurudev very carefully."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 12 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(2) Connection with the Centre
'We have no ability to interfere with the environment; to do so will only be a useless waste of energy. Rather, we must try to correct ourselves, so that we can adjust with the circumstances we find surrounding us. We have been advised that the best estimation we can make about the environment is to see it and understand it as a grant.'

Devotees' Humility
"Devotees are always humble. Whatever they do, they always think, 'Gurudev is my own'—that is the real connection with Gurudev. Those who are qualified will not tell anything about their practising life—they will only think that they are simple, small persons who have no quality, no qualification. This is how devotees show their devotion."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 19 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(3) Connection with the Centre
'Do not have disgust towards the sadhu, thinking: “Oh, he’s just a man—why should we do service to him, why should we do vaishnav-seva? Why is it recommended so much in different scriptures? It is always said, ‘You are to be dependent on sadhu’; but I want God Himself! Why will he come between me and God?” Do not think like that.'

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)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(4) GRADATIONS OF THEISM
'If we have the proper eye to see this, we won’t be envious: “Why should it be India?” That thinking is ludicrous, just as someone from the village thinking “Why in our village is there only a primary school, and in that city there is the university?” The highest school for theistic education should be located somewhere on the globe, and the place selected was India. Wherever the real religious truth is found, we must be open to accept it for its own intrinsic value. We should not be guided by the physical, mundane affinity—to our bodies or countries. We must rise above all this material consciousness and be students; with complete openness. We shall be an enquirer after the truth, from wherever it comes.'

Maintaining Gurudev's Legacy
"They do something but they cannot understand how much offence they are making. We must understand how to make Gurudev happy, how to follow Gurudev's line, and how to maintain Gurudev's legacy. We must think about these things."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | 19 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(5) GRADATIONS OF THEISM
'In a word: exploitation is bad, serving is good. The outer colour of the thing does not matter much. If any activity is approached through the spirit of service, if it is the vibration from that most fundamental plane that is influencing any external activity, whatever it may be, then that activity is cent-per-cent pure. So thieving, lying—everything may be pure if the vibration is coming from the most fundamental plane. If the motive of power comes, being pushed from that plane, it is alright.'

About Sri Jagadish Pandit:

Sri Jagadish Pandit
"Born in Guwahati, Assam, Sri Jagadish Pandit came to live in Nabadwip. Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya lived together on the bank of the Gages near Sri Jagannath Misra's house, and Mahaprabhu would often come to visit them."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb, 11 min | 24 January 2021)

"Jagadish Pandit was formerly a great dancer in Krishna-lila and was known as Chandrahasa. He belonged to the village of Yasada-gram, in the district of Nadia near the Chakadaha railway station. His father, the son of Bhatta Narayan, was named Kamalaksa. Both his father and mother were great devotees of Lord Visnu, and after their death, Jagadish, with his wife Duhkhini and brother Mahesa, left his birthplace and came to Sri Mayapur to live in the company of Jagannath Misra and other Vaisnavas. Lord Chaitanya asked Jagadish to go to Jagannath Puri to preach the Harinam sankirtan movement. After returning from Jagannath Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannath he established Deities of Jagannath in the village of Yasada-gram."

"Sri Jagadish is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (192) as follows: 'Sri Jagadish and Hiranya previously appeared as the wives of the yajnic brahmans of Vraja. The Lord asked for the grains they offered to Vishnu on the day of Ekadasi. Chandrahasa, the expert dancer and knower of the mellows of Vraja, has now appeared as Sri Jagadish Pandit.' Sri Nityananda Prabhu with His associates are the life and wealth of the most effulgent Sri Jagadish Pandit."

Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya Pandit—lived in Godrumadwip. Their house was some distance from the Lord's house. On the day of Ekadasi they arranged a large offering for the Lord. The injunction for fasting on Ekadasi is meant only for the living entities, but Lord Vishnu is beyond the jurisdiction of the rules and regulations that He has established. Since He is not bound to observe fast on Ekadasi, and since He alone is the enjoyer of all sacrificial offerings, all types of foodstuffs should be offered to Him on Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi the Vaisnavs give up all kinds of enjoyment and do not accept the injunction for honoring prasada as on other days, but Lord Sri Hari, the protector of the devotees, accepts the foodstuffs offered by His devotees on His day, Hari-vasara. Sri Gaura-Narayan also revealed His desire to eat those foodstuffs.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

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)

Worshipful Stance
"We chant the Holy Name, we practise kirtan, and we should do that in a worshipful mood. We can only worship Radha-Krishna's combined form and their lotus feet. We do not want to become sahajiyas. There are things that we must understand within ourselves but cannot express to others."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 19 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(6) THE PULL OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL WORLD
'Consider Sukadev Goswami. Already self-realised from before his birth, he does not want anything in this world; even he doesn’t wear any clothes. He only sometimes takes a cup of milk if it comes easily. He does not care for anything in this mundane plane—he has quite an independent life. He is atmarama, engaged in himself, not in any material, objective consciousness. And he has become attracted by something of a seemingly abstract nature. So, there must be something above the soul’s own subjective existence in a still higher plane that is adhoksaja, beyond ordinary perception.'

Emotion and Devotion
"If you stay with a great sadhu, if you practise properly, if you follow rules and regulations, then your material desires will be removed. I can challenge anyone that it is so. Devotion comes automatically through humility, tolerance, giving honour to others, through proper practising."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 19 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(7) THE TEST OF TASTE
'When we get these things from our Gurudev and Mahaprabhu, we think, “Oh, yes! These are heart-satisfying things.” And we will find such things through progressively eliminating the external things. Progress means this process of elimination and acceptance: elimination of the lower and acceptance of the higher. It is dynamic; at each stage of our progress we will find, “Yes, this is what I am really searching for.”'

Exclusive Devotional Vision
"We must follow our guru-varga's instruction and ideal. The main thing for us is that we must make our Gurudev happy, so we will not come to pass judgement about what Gurudev has told, we must follow whatever Gurudev says."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 19 July 2020)

• DIVINE ASPIRATION •

(8) A MOMENT’S PRECIOUS GRACE
'Guru Maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Don’t cheat me, you people. You all came with the understanding that you will engage yourselves in the service of Krishna, and so I have entered into some relationship with you. And now, after attending this ceremony, only as a show, you are going home to engage yourselves in worldly affairs. But your assurance to me was that you would all serve Krishna.” In this way he showed some disappointment.'

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In honour of Sriman Maharabhu's last day in Nabadwip:

In a lecture about Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila, Srila Govinda Maharaj commented: "We have seen that Srila Guru Maharaj was always deeply intoxicated with Mahaprabhu’s sannyas-lila. He established as a rule in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math that for the three days [after Mahaprabhu takes sannyas and leaves Nabadwip] the devotees will live very simply and eat only some rice and dalma (dal cooked with mixed vegetables)."

Heart-Breaking Decision
"Mahaprabhu's mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara, and Mukunda. Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, 'Nobody except them knows about it.' Sri Sachi Mata cried so much and other devotees also tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu in so many ways..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min)

Srila Lochan Das Thakur Mahasay
"Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur did not write in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata very clearly or broadly about the time prior to Sriman Mahaprabhu's taking sannyas, but in his Sri Chaitanya-mangal, Srila Lochan Das Thakur, for example, tells about the talk between Sriman Mahaprabhu and Vishnupriya Devi."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 25 October 2020)

Vishnupriya Devi's Sacrifice
"We must remember in our life the sacrifice that Vishnupriya Devi made. This life is not for enjoyment, this life is for service. We should learn from the sacrifice of Vishnupriya Devi..."

"If You Love Me..."
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, 'You think I am going to take sannyas and go far away from Nabadwip, but this is not so. You are always with Me. If you love Me, if you have any love and affection for Me, then always think about Krishna, always chant Hare Krishna and tell others to chant it.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 11 October 2020)

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

Ditching the World
"We have come here by a great fortune. Not everybody can come here. We must take the dust of this place, we must take prasad at this place. Do you see our condition? We must cry, 'When will material attachment be removed from my heart? When will that happen?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 15 min | 29 January 2018 | Bengali)

According to solar calculation, it was on the day of Makara-sankranti, an auspicious conjunction of the stars, that Nimai Pandit went to Katwa to take sannyas, the renounced order of life. After this, He would become known as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Just before this, He told only a few of His friends, including Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Pandit, Mukunda, and others, "The time when I will accept the robe of renunciation is very near."

Just a few days before this, an opposition party had been raised against Nimai Pandit. Those who believed that material nature is the highest principle, and that consciousness is a product of matter, began to abuse Nimai Pandit. He thought, "I came to deliver the lowest of men, but if they commit offenses against Me, there will be not hope for their upliftment." Suddenly, He said, "I came with that medicine which gives the greatest relief, but now I find that their disease is rapidly growing worse and seems beyond treatment. It will take its own course towards doom. The patients are committing offenses by abusing their doctor. They are making arrangements to insult Me. They take it that I am a family man—their nephew. They take Me as one of them. I came with the best medicine for the present degraded age, but now I find that they are plotting against Me. Now they are doomed. At least I have to show them that I am not one of them." He thought, "I shall leave family life and take sannyas and wander from village to village, town to town, preaching the Holy Name of Krishna." That was His decision, and within a few days He went to take sannyas at Katwa from Kesav Bharati Maharaj.

Just the day before He left to take sannyas, from the afternoon until the evening, there was a spontaneous gathering of devotees in the home of Nimai Pandit. Every year in Bengal, that day was celebrated as Laksmi-puja, worship of the goddess of fortune, when special cakes are prepared and distributed. Nimai, knowing that early the next morning He would leave Navadwip to take sannyas, attracted His followers in such a way that almost every leading devotee came to see Him that evening.

They came with flower garlands and many other offerings to be presented to the Lord. Nimai accepted their garlands and then placed them on the necks of the devotees who gave them. Only four of His most intimate devotees knew He was leaving; the ordinary devotees did not know this would be His last night in Navadwip. With His own hands He garlanded the necks of His devotees and appealed to them, "Always chant the name of Krishna. Under no condition should you give up this krsna-nama. And don't do anything else. While working, eating, sleeping or walking, day or night—in whatever you do—continuously take the name of Krishna. Always talk about Krishna—nothing else. If you have any real attraction for Me, then don't do anything without chanting the name of Krishna.

"Cultivate Krishna consciousness. Krishna is the origin of us all. He is our father; we have come from Him. The son who shows no gratitude towards the father is sure to be punished birth after birth. Always chant these names of the Lord:

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

No other religious principle is required. Chant Hare Krishna. This is not an ordinary mantra, but this is the maha-mantra, the greatest of all the great mantras, the very essence of all the mantras known to the world. Only take to this, always. No other prescription is to be followed.

"Remember your Lord, your home. This is a foreign land; you have nothing to aspire after here. Try always to go back home, back to Godhead." In this way, the Lord spoke, and all His devotees intuitively came because it was Nimai Pandit's last night in Navadwip.

Late at night, one devotee named Kholaveca Sridhara arrived. He used to make trade on the plantain tree and its fruit. He would sell the fruit, ripe or green, and the big leaves which are used as plates. Sometimes Nimai would pay him less for his fruits than what they were worth, and sometimes He would snatch the best fruits from him. Sridhara came to see Him late at night to offer Him a choice lau (calabash/bottle gourd). And Nimai thought, "I have spent almost My whole life snatching so many things from him, and now, on this last night he has brought this wonderful lau. I can't resist." He asked Sacidevi, "Mother, Sridhara has given me this lau. Please think of how it can be prepared." At bedtime, someone came with some milk. Nimai said, "Mother, with this milk and this lau, please prepare some sweet-rice." So Sacidevi prepared some lau sweet-rice: lau boiled with milk, rice and sugar.

Late at night, at about three o' clock in the morning, Nimai went away.

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

Kali-Yuga's Saviour
"There are so many stories in this world, but we must follow scriptures—we do not follow gossips. We must believe what Srimad Bhagavatam says. In the age of Kali, it is necessary to give Krishna-prema through chanting of the Holy Name."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.4 Mb, 13 min | 19 July 2020 | Incl. kirtan)

• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •

FOREWORD: THE EXCLUSIVE LINE OF SRILA SARASWATI THAKUR
Written and formerly printed in the form of a Centenary Sri Vyasa-puja offering by Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj: 'I offer my dandavat-pranams at the lotus feet of Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Govinda Maharaj, and their eternal associates and followers. They are all capable of flooding this entire universe with that Krishna-prema that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his Parsada devotees came to give. They are each an ocean of mercy and are the only shelter for the fallen souls. I pray that they will not leave me behind. My prayer is that they will ever keep me near to them.'

INTRODUCTION: THIS EXTREMELY AUSPICIOUS DAY
A Sri Vyasa-puja address by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj: 'If we need Ganges water we must go to the Ganges. Similarly it is necessary that if we want the conception given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Srila Saraswati Thakur we must come to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. This was also the expression of all the devotees of Srila Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. We can say we are very fortunate that Srila Guru Maharaj bestowed his mercy upon us, but if we cannot worship him in a proper way and cannot respect him properly, then we will go to hell, actually.'

Today's events:

Clearing the Obstacles
"When Mahaprabhu left His family, do you know who came at that time? Kalanidra. Kalanidra came to the Lord and asked, 'Prabhu, I have come. Why did You call me? What is my duty?' Mahaprabhu told her, 'Now do your duty.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 12 December 2010)

Late at night, at about three o' clock in the morning, Nimai went away. He left Visnupriya Devi asleep in bed. His mother Sacidevi, sensing what was to come, was staying awake all night guarding the door. Nimai bowed down to her and went away. And like a stone figure, Mother Sacidevi sat there by the gate as Nimai left. She could not say anything, but was struck dumb.

The ordinary public was very much enraged, saying to Kesav Bharati, "We can't allow you, Swamiji, to give sannyas to this young boy. It is impossible! If you do, then we shall smash your ashram." Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began performing kirtan, chanting Hare Krishna and dancing madly. And the angry mob grew, sometimes creating a disturbance. In this way the whole day passed with no decision. The night passed in sankirtan.

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

Our Programme
"My service is that I want to make everybody happy. You are all Gurudev's devotees, well-wishers, friends, that is why I want to serve you all. We still cannot gather many people, but we are trying to preach and serve devotees from afar as much as possible."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min | 26 July 2020)

• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •

(1) SIKSA-GURU
'Constantly associating, whether in Allahabad, Calcutta, or other parts of India, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's relationship continually developed. Throughout his life, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj always maintained the highest respect and confidence in Srila Sridhar Maharaj. He considered that whenever it was not possible for his disciples to proceed directly under his guidance, that they should take direction from Srila Sridhar Maharaj.'

Today's events:

Will-O'-the-Wisp of Worldly Wishes
"If you give Maya chance, then Maya will attack you. As soon as you get a weak spot, Maya will attack you. It does not matter whether you are young or old. If you try to control your elements, you can control them from a young age."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 10 min | 5 July 2020)

...The next day, Nimai's will prevailed, although there was still some opposition.

In this way, the sannyas of Nimai Pandit took place. What is the meaning of His sannyas?....

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

In honour of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswamipad:

Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami's Miracle
"You have heard about the Deity of Sri Radha-Raman in Vrindavan. When Gopal Bhatta Goswami lived in Vrindavan, he every day worshipped twelve pieces of Govardhan sila..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 7 September 2013 | Bengali)

Strongest Faith (2) Gopal Bhatta Goswami
"You have eyes in your heart, and if you have such feeling towards the Deity in your heart and do your service with such faith, then you can easily see Krishna everywhere, hear Krishna-nama everywhere, nothing else besides Krishna-nama will enter your ears..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 10 March 2015)

In honour of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj's disappearance:

Power of Good Association
"You must see the sadhu with your ears. Every day you sing, 'Ramachandra-sanga mage Narottama Dasa: Narottam Das prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraj.' What does this mean? Why does Narottam Das always ask for the association of Ramachandra?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 12 March 2017 | Gaura Purnima)

Sanctity of Initiation
"What is called initiation? What is initiation about? People say, 'We all know the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—we can chant it easily on our own and get our benefit.' This is not so. We can chant, we can do service and other things, but without proper guidance, without a guru, all our attempts will be unscientific."
• Download / listen to the audio (6 Mb, 15 min | 26 July 2020)

• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •

Part 1. Chapter 2. Transcendental History
'The Ocean of the Pastimes of Srila Guru Maharaj is unlimited. How many drops of that ocean can a mere sparrow extract? In this world, time is not on our side. Ordered by my Gurudev, I have tried—in my own random way—to present some of these drops of honey for the bumblebee devotees of the Lord. Whoever hears the nectarean Divine Pastimes and Teachings of Srila Guru Maharaj cannot but attain the Supreme Wealth of life itself—Love for the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.'

In memory of today's events related to Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila:

Memorable Day In Bamunpara
"One morning Gurudev went to Bamunpara. Only Gurudev, his driver, me, and Gurudev's servant who cooked for him, went at that time. That day, Gurudev showed me that place in Bamunpara where Mahaprabhu passed after taking sannyas..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)

Remembering Mahaprabhu's Sannyas-Lila
"Srila Param Guru Maharaj said that during this time Nabadwip was covered by thick clouds—there was no sun in the sky and everything was very dark. Even the sun too cried because the Lord had left Nabadwip. It was such a sad time, everybody felt very deep separation."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min)

Ten Days in Shantipur
"...When Mahaprabhu came to Shantipur and the news about it spread everywhere, so many devotees started coming there—so many boats, full of people, came to Shantipur to see Mahaprabhu..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min)

Heart-Breaking Decision
"Mahaprabhu's mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara, and Mukunda. Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, 'Nobody except them knows about it.' Sri Sachi Mata cried so much and other devotees also tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu in so many ways..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min)

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

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

"Passing through the tract of land known as Rarhdesh, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu recited the following verse in ecstasy:

etam sa asthaya paratma-nistham
adhyasitam purvatamair mahadbhih
aham tarisyami duranta-param
tamo mukundanghri-nisevayaiva

"Avanti Brahman said, 'I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna. This was approved by the previous acharyas who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.3.4-5)

In honour of Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti Chandan:

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

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

Cooking: Integral Part of Practising Life
"You must understand that when you come to practising life, you will get some austerity. Try to practise properly. Try to change yourself. This is how you can proceed in your spiritual life. I know it is sometimes very difficult, but you must still try to follow what I am saying, you must still try to cook, try to serve. That is good for you—you will get more energy for service, you will get more happiness in your heart."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 12 min)

• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •

(3) SRILA GURU MAHARAJ REMEMBERS
'I was born at midnight, Saturday 10th October, 1895. Navami tithiunder the same sign as Lord Ramchandra. Krishna-paksa [dark moon fortnight]. Sriman Mahaprabhu was also born on a Saturday. I was the second child. The first was a daughter, but she died early, so Ram Kavach [a protective mantram and amulet] was given to my mother for the protection of the next child, that is, myself. So I was born after my mother took Ram Kavach....'

Mahaprabhu's Stay in Shantipur
"Nityananda Prabhu understood devotees' feeling and somehow managed to take Mahaprabhu to Shantipur instead of taking Him straight to Vrindavan. In Shantipur, Mahaprabhu gave lecture, He sang and danced the whole day and night without stop..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 26 January 2018)

Adjustment of Consciousness
"You are the property of your Guru, you are not anybody else's property. Devotees always practise wherever they go. If you are staying with some nondevotees for some purpose, you are not going to stay there for a long time, so stay there but you must practise there—you must chant, etc."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 26 July 2020)

• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •

Part 2. Chapter 4. Hearing To See
'Without knowing the real meaning, what we feel and read is the wrong reading of the environment—it is maya. We miss the universal purpose, and from local interest we read, "Oh, this is for this purpose, this is for that purpose." But this is local interest. What we conceive, feel, trust and believe, is not in consonance with the universal reading....'