The Proof of the Pudding

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
23 January 2012, Khammam (Telangana, South India)

Do you have any questions?

Question: How can one get taste for the maha-mantra?

The taste will come if you chant the Holy Name with sincerity (nistha), without offences of Vaishnavs, without the ten offences; if you get the seed through a bona fide Guru; and through the service to the Vaishnavs.

Actually, some think, "Oh, I have got a bona fide Guru!" but what is the use getting a good doctor if you do not take the medicine he prescribes? We have got a bona fide Guru, but we are not following this Guru's instruction, then how will we get the taste? Suppose I get a prescription, but I put it away into my almirah or my table and do not take the medicine—how will I get taste without taking the prescribed medicine? You must follow Gurudev's instruction and chant the Holy Name, then you will easily get the taste.

It is like somebody is playing a football match and we are watching them play football—somebody is doing puja and we are watching them do it.

Question: What is the definition of bhakti?

I have already told it. You should come and practise. It is not necessary to think so much—you will not get the taste just by watching a football match, you must come and play football, play and enjoy with us!

Krishna Himself does not come to this world as a Vaikuntha-pati (Lord Narayan with four hands)—He does not want to be a Vaikuntha-pati—He comes here as a devotee, and He chants and dances with devotees. He is teaching us.

কৃষ্ণের যতেক খেলা, সর্ব্বোত্তম নরলীলা,
নরবপু তাহার স্বরূপ ।

krsnera yateka khela, sarvvottama nara-lila,
nara-vapu tahara svarupa

"The highest form of Godhead is Krsna, who plays in His eternal divine pastimes like a human being."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 21.101)

Krishna does not want to be Narayan with four hands, Krishna comes with two hands, He chants, dances, eats, sleeps, plays with boys, He does everything—He is teaching us. We too must join that. If I chant, I will get the benefit—if you do not chant, how will you get the benefit? Just as when I take medicine, I will be cured—you must also take the medicine, then you will be cured too.

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