Appreciating Sadhu (3)

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
22 October 2018, Kolkata, part 3

Lord Krishna says, "If one has achala-bhakti, prabala-bhakti, proper, intense devotion for Me, I am always with them, but those who practise even astanga-yoga, etc. cannot bind Me, I am not with them. I am always with those who have a proper intense devotion for Me." How is it that Vraja gopis have the highest position?

Lord Krishna is attained only through a perfect, proper devotion, good association of Vaishnavs and the Guru, and by proper utilisation of that association.

We are told that there are different qualities of Vaishnavs—there is a kanistha-adhikari, a madhyam-adhikari, and an uttam-adhikari. Those who see Krishna only in the Deities are kanistha-adhikaris. Those who see Krishna in devotees and Deities are madhyam-adhikaris. Srila Rupa Goswami told, and Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj also told that if you give respect only to the Deities but not to the Deities' servitor, it is not good. We must give proper respect to the servitors of the Deities also. The Deity is installed only through a servitor—through a closest associate, servant of the Lord. Then, those who see only Krishna always and everywhere (even in trees, plants, etc.) are uttam-adhikaris.

Param Guru Maharaj Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj told that when one becomes a pujari, it is sometimes very difficult for them to give respect to the servitors of the Deities, to the servitors of Vaishnavs. This is the main problem. Sometimes they think, "I do puja, I am always near the Deities! I am great!" This is a very bad symptom for them. They only see the Lord in the Deities, and nowhere else, but the Lord is not only there—He also stays in the heart of His devotees. "Bhaktera hrdaye sada govinda-visrama (ভক্তের হৃদয়ে সদা গোবিন্দ-বিশ্রাম): Krishna always rests in the heart of devotees."

So, I am telling to everybody: give proper respect to the sadhu, do not make any offence to the sadhu. This is the main thing. Only a sadhu can rescue you from all kinds of bad elements—he can remove all your bad elements if you surrender to him properly. Remember this.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Sri Rupanuga Guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
All the branches ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
All the devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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