(11/11) Stay on Right Track

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Sri Ekachakra Dham, evening class
15 February 2019, part 11
Translated from Bengali

What is called sadhana-bhajan (practising spiritual life)? The gist meaning of practising life is sravanam and kirtanam: listening about the Lord and chant the Lord's Name and glories.

One time, somebody also asked: 'Prabhupad, if Sriman Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself, then if we worship Sriman Mahaprabhu, everything is achieved—what is the necessity to worship Krishna separately?' Srila Prabhupad replied, 'Those who think like this discriminate between Krishna and Gaura. There are many people who pretend to be followers of Gaura and say things like this in delirium – this is not worship of Gaura, it is nothing but deceit and pretence. Imagining something is bigger than Krishna is a concoction or illusion. Actually, a servant worships Gaura before worshipping Krishna, and when the eternally liberated souls worship Gaura, it is the same as worship of Krishna.'

How can one get rid of anarthas (unwanted habits)? 'Unless you practise Krishna consciousness, you can never get rid of anarthas. When some bad thoughts come to your mind, you must loudly chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!' When other thoughts come to your mind, when bad thoughts come to your mind, when you are anxious because of some trouble, always loudly chant kirtan. Sing loudly, strongly. If you do this, all evils within you will diminish. Always remember this.

What does one get by becoming a Vaishnav? Srila Prabhupad replied: 'Becoming a Vaishnav is the greatest achievement. It is the only duty in the life of a brahman, and it is fulfilled only after millions of births of being a Vedantic scholar. In Bengal, the scholars in the line of exclusive monotheism (kevaladvaitavad) say, "We are also great," but no one other than the greatest sage Vyasadev wrote: "One priest (a brahman who does fire sacrifices) is greater than thousands of general brahmans; one expert in Vedic knowledge is greater than thousands of such priests; one devotee of Vishnu is greater than millions of such Vedic scholars and one Vaishnav is greater than thousands of devotees of Vishnu."' Do you understand what he says? Among a thousand devotees of Vishnu, one person may be able to become a Vaishnav. Srila Vyasadev himself said this – he is the one through whom Krishna composed Srimad Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam is actually written by Krishna Himself (through Vedavyas).

Is everyone who takes initiation in this world called a disciple? Srila Prabhupad replied, 'If one does not accept punishment with a lowered head (with humility), they cannot be a disciple. Servants of the Lord live in a temple. If the residents of the temple (math) give up proper practice and do not follow the proper conception, they will become 'enjoyers of kamath'. If one gives up the interest of the Math and the service to the Math, such averse soul becomes a kamath resident.' [Kamath is possibly a play of words: it means a 'turtle', and in Indian pronunciation, it can sound similar to 'commode', a toilet.]

These are such nice things. Take this book (Guidance 3) and read it at home. This time, the book has turned out a little thicker, so the price is higher. What to do? We do not trade books – the price is the cost of printing. This third volume is a little harder. There are many serious and important matters discussed in this book, that is why it is written using hard language. There are also many questions and answers in this book – if you read this book, you can find them there. Apart from very hard things, there are also many beautiful things written in this book. I will read a little from it every day and explain it to you. If you have more questions, tell me and I will print the answers in the next book. I have already got one question, and if you have any other questions, let me know.

It is said that the path of karmis, jnanis, yogis, etc. is wrong. Why is said so? Srimad Bhagavatam says that those who have accepted the path of karma, jnana or yoga have taken to a wrong path. Why? If there is devotion, one can get the Lord. You cannot get the Lord through any karma, jnana or yoga. Even Srimad Bhagavad-gita says this. You may get something you like (preya), but it does not mean you get what is good for you (sreya). Something can please your mind, but it will not necessarily give you the real thing. It is necessary to turn sreya into preya. Devotees say, 'I must serve my Lord. He may or may not accept it' – that is called devotion. 'I will do service, and whether the Lord accepts it or not, it is His matter. I have no right to say anything. My duty is to do service, and what the Lord will do or will not do, that is His matter.'

Fast tomorrow until tomorrow. It is ekadasi. Do not go to any apa-sampradayas to listen to any chanting. Do not go anywhere to please your mind or to enjoy fancy poetry. I have told you about it before. Never listen to all those offences to the Holy Name. I have told you many times that the Holy Name cannot be chanted in bad association. Srila Prabhupad also said that worshiping a Deity for ten rupees is not Deity worship, just as chanting kirtan for fifty rupees is not kirtan. If you listen to those kirtans, it can give pleasure to your mind, you can enjoy some poetry or literary display, but it will not bring any auspiciousness to you – it will only always take you down a wrong path. Always stay on the right track. Always remember what I have said.

I have said a lot today, it is time to finish now. I will chant one–two kirtans, then chant 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna' and finish.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Emona durmati' and then adds a remark.]

This year, by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and by the unlimited mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, we have tried hard to prepare the calendar earlier. So, the calendar has already come out. You can get here the same calendar now that you usually get at Gaura Purnima time. There are not many copies here because we have not managed to print all yet, but we have brought some, you can take them with you. Some of you may not be able to come for Gaura Purnima, then you should take the Math's calendars here. You will find there when and which festivals are, when the ekadasis and paran times are. It was printed very nicely this year – we printed it at a new place, in Kolkata. Please take calendars with you. There is also Upadesh, Volume 3. We have also re-printed Nityananda Mahimamrita (the first edition was sold out).

[His Divine Grace continues kirtan, chanting 'Jaya Radha Madhava', the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna'. Reciting Sri Jaya Dhvani, His Divine Grace concludes the evening programme.]

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.
Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-kula-churamani Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu ki jay.
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay.
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay.
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay.
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay.
Tandiya sakha-math-samuha ki jay.
Sri Mather sevak-vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Ananta-koti Vaishnav-vrinda ki jay.
Sri Gaudiya Acharya-vrinda, tridandi-pad-gan ki jay.
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay.
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay.
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay.
Suddha-bhaktir-vighna-vinasa-kari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay.
Jay Sri Ekachakra Dham ki jay.
Jay Sri Ekachakra Dham parikrama-kari bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Harinam sankirtan ki jay.
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol.

Devotee: Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay. Nitai Gaura Hari bol.

Wake up early in the morning tomorrow. I will come here in the morning to give class and chant some kirtan. I will speak more tomorrow, please stay at the temple.

— : • : —

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Worship Nityananda
2) Immerse Yourself in Exclusive Worship
3) Fill Your Heart with Kirtan
4) Mahaprabhu's Caution
5) Adjust Your Aspiration
6) Meaning and Value of Fortune
7) Have You Found What You Are Looking For?
8) Follow and Preach
9) Our Real Necessity
10) Seek Soul's Fulfilment
11) Stay on Right Track