Simple Preaching, Simple Practice

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj,
8 July 2012, speaking online to Caracas

Devotee: When all these gurus are appearing in the market, how should we preach to our family about our spiritual master?

There are many books by Srila Sridhar Maharaj and by Gurudev, and our conception is there. You have the real food.

Yes, there are many gurus in the market.

Mahaprabhu gave His full power to Srila Rupa Goswami. When Rupa Goswami showed Him his two slokas ("Tunde tandavani ratim" and "Nikhila-sruti-mauli"), Mahaprabhu was extremely happy and overcome with ecstasy. It was at that time that Mahaprabhu gave special mercy to Rupa Goswami. Eventually, that Gaudiya line came down to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

In his lifetime, Srila Saraswati Thakur did not actually mention any Guru—he did not indicate who would be the real Guru—but he indicated who could preach his spiritual conception, who could take the flag—it was Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. When Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was going to disappear, he told Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj to sing the song "Sri Rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada, sei mora bhajana pujana."

In his lifetime, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj gave sannyas to so many, he also made so many foreign sannyasis, but he gave charge to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He brought him and forcefully gave him sannyas. He said to him, "I have been waiting for this for more than thirty years. I want to make you the Guru. If you do not take this position now, I will commit suicide." Then Gurudev took that position—he took sannyas and held the flag. And in his last days, when Gurudev knew he was going to disappear soon, he gave that position to me.

It is easy to preach this...

Devotee: What should one do if one is into accumulating knowledge?

Actually, it is not necessary. Prabhupad told not to read so many books. It is not necessary to read so many scriptures or try to dig deep in the scriptures. You do not need so much knowledge—try to understand the simple things.

Gurudev gave me only one book—Gaudiya-kantahara. Other than that, I have not read so many books. Now I am reading Srimad Bhagavatam, but not so much.

In this Age of Kali there is only Harinam maha-mantra. If you can only always chant this Harinam maha-mantra, it will give you a great result. Through chanting you will get service, and when you get service, that will be sufficient for you.

If somebody does puja of Gaura Nitai and they can continue their service until death in this world, they will get the same service in Goloka Vrindavan. If somebody makes garlands their whole life, until death, they will make garlands there also, in Goloka Vrindavan. That is sufficient. It is not necessary to become a Guru, it is not necessary to become a big preacher, or a big kirtaniya. It is a simple matter—we only want to go to our real home. We can make garlands for the whole life and do this service there too. That is it.

At the same time, why did Guru Maharaj make sannyasis? Why did Guru Maharaj make preachers? Why did Gurudev give me sannyas and make me the Guru? To give benefit to others. Gurudev finished his service and gave the responsibility to us, that is why we are continuing his job. We only always follow his order. Why do we give initiation? Why do we make preachers and sannyasis? Because we are following Gurudev's order—Gurudev ordered to us to make preachers so that people could get benefit through them, and we are doing that.

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