Proper Channel and Approach

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Speaking online to devotees in the Philippines
22 August 2011, part 4

It is necessary to have full faith. Gurudev always mentioned that there are 10% devotees, 20% devotees, 30% devotees, 50% devotees, and so on. Why did Gurudev say like that? "Sraddha-anusari bhakti-adhikari (শ্রদ্ধা-অনুসারী ভক্তি-অধিকারী, Cc, 2.22.64)": the type of devotion you have depends upon faith, sraddha.

I am very happy today, today is a special day of Janmastami, it is a fasting day. Also we are making a festival for Nanda Maharaj tomorrow—we will try to make Nanda Maharaj happy. If we can serve Nanda Maharaj, if we can serve Mother Yasoda, then Krishna will be happier. It is necessary to understand this. We do not go directly to Lord Krishna, we do not go directly to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—we go for association, we go to great Vaishnavs, then our Guru. "Guru, Vaishnav, Bhagavan"—nobody says, "Bhagavan, Vaishnav, Guru." It is always Guru, Vaishnav, Bhagavan:

তিনের স্মরণে হয় বিঘ্ন-বিনাশন

tinera smarane haya vighna-vinasana

"By remembering Guru, Vaishnav, Bhagavan, all obstacles are destroyed."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1.21)

If you remember these three—Guru, Vaishnav, Bhagavan (first Guru, then Vaishnav, then Bhagavan)—all obstacles will be removed. This is how we go to the Lord Himself.

So, if you do not serve Radharani, you cannot get Krishna, and if you do not serve Lalita, you will not get Radharani. In the same way, if you do not serve Nityananda Prabhu, you will not get mercy from Mahaprabhu. You must understand this. Just think how merciful, how much great fortune Yasoda Ma and Nanda Maharaj have! They got Lord Krishna as their son—they clean His stool, they even sometimes beat Him!

One time, Krishna Himself said to His father Nanda Maharaj, "I am Giriraj! I am Govardhan! Worship Me!" One day Mother Yasoda was going to make some offering to Lord Indra, so she cooked so many very opulent preparations. Suddenly, Krishna came Mother Yasoda and was about to start eating what she had cooked. Mother Yasoda chastised Him, "Hey! What are You doing?! This Deities'—it is for Indra!" Krishna said, "Indra?! If My Mother makes something, why must Indra take it? Indra's mother did not make this food—My Mother made it, so I will take it! When Indra's mother makes something, then Indra can take it, but if My mother makes something, I will take it!" Mother Yasoda was in vatsalya-rasa, so she could not understand what was happening at that time.

So, we must understand that if we serve, if we invite Mother Yasoda, it is not necessary to invite Krishna. If you invite Krishna, Krishna will not come alone, but if you invite Mother Yasoda, Mother Yasoda will bring Krishna on her lap. It is not necessary to invite Krishna separately.

You must serve Nanda Maharaj, Mother Yasoda; you must serve Nityananda Prabhu, you must serve your Guru—then you will get mercy from Krishna. This is the main thing.

So, I am very happy today to see all the Philippines devotees in front of me, it is very nice that devotees all over the world can hear so many things about Krishna-katha. Also, I am praying to everybody—please follow Gurudev's line, Rupa Goswami's line, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's line. Some may think, "That ship is going fast, I will take that ship!", but you will not reach Vrindavan by that ship. You have to ask first which ship, which plane is going to Vrindavan and you make that the right train or plain otherwise if you take another train, it will not fulfil your desire, it will not take you to your goal and destination. We must go in the proper way.

I am very happy with all the Philippines devotees, Ratnanabha Prabhu and others—they listen to Hari-katha and they are making a very good festival. Our main festival is tomorrow—Nanda Maharaj's festival. Make Nanda Maharaj happy, and Krishna will be even happier!

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