(8/8) Serve with Heart and Soul

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Preaching programme, 18 April 2019, part 8
Translated from Bengali

We must be kind to others (jive daya), we must have attachment to chanting the Holy Name (Name ruchi) and we must serve Vaishnavs (vaisnava-seva). We must always serve those who constantly chant the Holy Name, who always engage themselves in the service of the Lord forsaking their own lives. For others' happiness, for others' benefit, sadhus sacrifice their own happiness and only go door to door, chanting, 'Krishna! Krishna!' to bring people to this path. We must serve such sadhus. There is no other way in this world.

হরের্নাম হরের্নাম হরের্নামৈব কেবলম্ ।
কলৌ নাস্ত্যেব নাস্ত্যেব নাস্ত্যেব গতিরন্যথা ॥

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

'Chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name – there is no other way, no other way, no other way.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.7.76)

In this Age of Kali, except for chanting the Holy Names of the Lord there is no other way, no other way, no other way! That is why I am always telling you – chant the Holy Name, serve Vaishnavs. Our temple has many books that you can also buy and read – whenever you get time read these books, then you will see that the Lord will take care of you, the Lord will bless you all. You do not need to worry about anything.

We are suffering so much now because we forget the Lord. But if you remember the Lord and live for Him, then you do not need to ever worry about anything. Only think about the Lord, think about Govinda, then you will see that you can spend your life in a very smooth and beautiful way.

Wake up early in the morning, think about the Lord, do Tulasi parikrama. If you do Tulasi parikrama, you will get the same result as when circumambulating Sri Vrindavan Dham. You cannot go to Vrindavan all the time, so whenever you remember Tulasi Devi, you can remember Vrindavan. She is the Mistress (Adiswari) of Vrindavan, she is the Goddess of Devotion (Vrinda Devi, Bhakti Devi). By seeing her, by touching her, all sins become destroyed, and the Lord does not accept any of fifty-six grain offerings or thirty-six vegetable offerings without Tulasi leaves. Even if you cook the best preparations and serve them in the best possible way, the Lord will not accept anything without Tulasi.

Offer bhog to the Lord with the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and pray, 'O Lord, I am a very lowly person, I do not know anything. I am giving you whatever I have – some simple dal, rice, boiled potato and sak. Please accept it.' You know, when the Lord went to Vidura's house, He even eat banana skin there! Vidura's wife was so excited that the Lord had come to their house that she peeled some bananas but instead of giving bananas to Krishna, she threw bananas away and offered Him the peel! And Krishna ate it. When Vidura came there and saw the scene, he scolded his wife, 'Are you pulling my friend's leg?' His wife suddenly came to senses, 'No, what have I done? What is wrong?' Vidura pointed out to her, 'You are throwing bananas away and giving Him peel?!' But the Lord laughed and took it happily. When Krishna came to visit Sudama Vipra, He ate some broken rice (chaler khud). When Mahaprabhu came to Sridhar Prabhu's house, He drank water from a glass with holes.

ভক্তের জিনিষ প্রভু লুটিপুটি খায়
অভক্তের জিনিষ প্রভু উলটি নাহি চায়

bhaktera jinisa prabhu lutiputi khaya
abhaktera jinisa prabhu ulti nahi chaya

'The Lord eats anything and everything when a devotee offers it, but the Lord does not want to take anything from a non-devotee.'

(Based on Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.9.185)

Non-devotees cannot even give anything to the Lord. They will give something but in lieu of that they will want to get something for themselves. Such people are not devotees. They are merchants – they come to the shop, give ten rupees and expect to get a hundred grams of oil for the money. This is trading – there must be no such give-and-take or ask-and-get relationship with the Lord. We must serve the Lord with heart and soul. This is not something you show externally. If you put on tilaks, wear neckbeads, etc. but inside your nature is not like that, you cannot get anything like this. You must call Lord Govinda with heart and soul; you must serve the Lord with heart and soul.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Life in Hari-Kirtan
2) Busy Lives
3) Your Responsibility
4) No Shortcuts
5) Sacrifice to Thrive
6) No Double Standards
7) Selfless Devotion
8) Serve with Heart and Soul