Service and Sincere Practice

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Talking online to the devotees in Caracas
19 June 2016

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.

I am very happy to see you all. Yesterday was the festival of Raghunath Das Goswami in Panihati. By the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunath Das Goswami got some great mercy, and you can understand that he actually got that mercy through Vaishnav seva.

Nityananda Prabhu told Raghunath Das Goswami, "You are a thief!" Why did He call Raghunath Das Goswami a thief? Because before Raghunath Das Goswami could not understand that without the mercy from Nityananda Prabhu you cannot get the mercy of Mahaprabhu—so many times he secretly went to Mahaprabhu, but Mahaprabhu always refused him. Every time Mahaprabhu told him, "Go back to your home, do not be crazy. Markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana (do not show your false renunciation to impress people). Stay in your house."

অন্তরে নিষ্ঠা কর, বাহ্যে লোক-ব্যবহার ।
অচিরাৎ কৃষ্ণ তোমায় করিবে উদ্ধার ॥

antare nistha kara, bahye loka-vyavahara
achirat krsna tomaya karibe uddhara

"Be fixed internally, and behave like everyone else externally. Krishna will rescue you soon."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 16.239)

Mahaprabhu advised Raghunath Das Goswami so many things.

When Nityananda Prabhu came to Panihati, He gave him His mercy—He ordered Him to give a Vaishnav seva, to make a chida-dadhi mahotsav—a flat rice and yoghurt festival. After that, when the festival finished, Raghunath Das Goswami paid obeisance to Nityananda Prabhu, and Nityananda Prabhu put His leg on Raghunath Goswami's head and said, "Now you can go to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu will accept you." And it happened.

Without the mercy of Guru you cannot get anything...

I know you are all suffering very much because of the difficult condition in Venezuela, but what I am happy about is that by the mercy of Gurudev you are continuing your service and everybody is helping each other, everybody is helping the mission, that is why the mission is running smoothly. I was told that there are big problems outside, but inside the temple there are no problems, and I said, "Yes, Gaura Nitai is there. When Lord is there, nothing will happen."

Even if you live in this world for a thousand years, it will give no result if you cannot serve Parama Karuna Gaura Nitai; but if you live in this world for only five days and you serve Gaura Nitai, that is sufficient, that is more than good.

Are there any questions from you?

Question: In this situation we need to develop some attachment to the service, to find some shelter...

Yes, of course. Shelter is necessary, otherwise how will you get service without any shelter?

Question: In our present situation we may not have so much faith because we do not have direct association. What can we do to develop a stronger faith?

You should understand that from your Guru. Who will you listen to? If you cannot get direct association from your Guru, direct guidance from your Guru, then you can take shelter of a Vaishnav who has 100% faith in the Guru, who has 100% chastity for the Guru.

Question: We do not have so much perspective about who is a Vaishnav. Where can we find the ability to recognise a Vaishnav?

If you practise properly, if you think in the proper way, then the Lord will Himself arrange that for you.

Question: How can we reducing our anxiety?

Through practice, through chanting the Holy Name. If you depend upon Krishna, depend upon the Lord, if you have full faith in the Lord, and have faith, "If Krishna protects, no one can destroy me," then all anxiety will go away.

Question: How to be simple-hearted?

Actually, it is necessary to be simple-hearted. If you practise the nava-vidha bhakti properly, follow the rules and regulations (sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana, mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana—associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura, and worship the Deity with faith), then you will automatically become simple-hearted.

Question: How can all life be just service?

That depends upon the person. If you avoid the Vaishnav aparadh, if you avoid the seva aparadh, you avoid the Dham aparadh, avoid the Nam aparadh, then you can continue your service during your whole life...

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