(2/12) Joy in Sadness

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Vaishnav-seva programme in Begampur (Hooghly),
Early February 2019, part 2
Translated from Bengali

Today is a day of separation from Sripad Sanath Prabhu's matri-devi (mother), but when we talk about separation from our Gurupadpadma or any Vaishnav, this feeling of separation gives us happiness. You have heard about the conversation that took place between Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Ray. Mahaprabhu asked him, 'What is the greatest sadness in this world?' Ramananda Ray replied, 'I do not see any other sadness in this world except for the sadness of separation from a devotee.'

দুঃখ-মধ্যে কোন্ দুঃখ হয় গুরুতব ? ।
কৃষ্ণভক্ত-বিরহ বিনা দুঃখ নাহি দেখি পর ॥

'duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?'
'krsna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para'

'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked: "Of all kinds of unhappiness, what unhappiness is the heaviest?" Sri Ramananda Ray replied: "I do not see any other unhappiness except for separation from the devotee of Krishna."'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.8.247)

Our biggest sadness, or unhappiness, is separation from devotees. Then why do we say that this separation brings us happiness? You have seen it written in the Gaudiya calendar or have heard during classes that we say, 'Sri Gurupadpadma's subha avirbhav (auspicious appearance, শুভ আবির্ভাব)' and 'Sri Gurupadpadma's subha tirobhav (auspicious disappearance, শুভ তিরোভাব)'. Why do we call it 'auspicious'? This is the speciality of Vaishnavs, or devotees. When your parents die, you say that something inauspicious (asubha, অশুভ) has happened, but we call disappearance of Vaishnavs auspicious. Why? Because on this day, Vaishnavs or gurus come to take service from their devotees, and we get an opportunity to do some service to them. For example, Sripad Sanath Prabhu has arranged this programme today for the sake of his mother (so that she can get some mercy of Vaishnavs and so that he soul can get some happiness and peace). Service to Vaishnavs is the main thing in our lives. Our Guru Maharaj also often said this.

Those of you who have taken shelter in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math are very fortunate. When we read holy books, we can see and understand what is the speciality of this Math. We are printing a new book soon, and if you read it, you will understand what this Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's distinction. I have written there why Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj established Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, why he created his beloved Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math 'sravan-sadan' (abode where the glories of the Lord can be heard). You can see outside people using many things for their own enjoyment and pleasure in this wold, but Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math takes all those things and uses them for the service of the Lord. Outside people buy cars and houses and live in enjoyment, but Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math utilises these things in service.

As you know, Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj established this Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in 1941. You must remember these things because when you tell others about the Math, when you go for preaching, you must be able to tell about it. Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj first came and surrendered to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sararaswati Thakur (the guardian, or you can say the founder, of Sri Gaudiya Math) in 1926. At that time, his name was Sri Ramendra Sundar Bahmachari. Seeing his extraordinary personality and hearing his speech, Srila Prabhupad very quickly – in just four years (in 1930) – gave him sannyas. When Srila Sridhar Maharaj (he was still a brahmachari at that time) went to the Godavari and discovered Sri Ramananda Gaudiya Math there, Srila Bon Maharaj and Srila Prabhupad heard him speak there, and they said, 'This boy should not be kept as a brahmachari – he should be given sannyas.' After that, Si Ramendra Sundar received sannyas from Srila Prabhuprad and his name became Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Maharaj composed 'Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam', 'Srila Bhaktivinod Viraha Dasakam' and many other works, and he captured Srila Prabhupad's heart with his unique writings.

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Size: 54 Mb
Length: 109 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Your Sreyo Must Become Your Preyo
2) Joy in Sadness
3) Who Will Understand?
4) Vaishnavs' Dignity
5) Read and Absorb
6) Sincere Self-Realisation
7) Mahaprabhu's Conception
8) Gist of Spiritual Life
9) Prison of Misconception
10) Learn and Live the Ideal
11) Service Alertness
12) Be Attached and Detached