(8/10) Pitfalls and Benefits

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Midnapore, 24 April 2019, evening, part 8
Translated from Bengali

[His Divine Grace reads from Guidance 3]

7) Question: What is the path of real spiritual benefit?

Answer: As long as the jiva soul does not become inclined to serve the Lord, it will not have consciousness of Krishna, which means the pastimes and teachings of Sri Gaurasundar will not enter its heart. Our only duty is to serve Krishna and Krishna's devotees. We will be cheated for as long as we are not able to realise this. When will we be released from our foolishness? When we sincerely, leaving all deceit, embark on the path of devotion to Krishna. Although the sun is very far, sun rays come near us and give us light; in the same way, the Lord always appears near us within the material world. If we follow and hold the hand of those who worship the Lord, they will open our eyes and we will be able to have the darsan of the Lord. Those who constantly try to practise Krishna consciousness serve the Lord at every step—without service to the Lord they do not use anything, do not do anything. Service to such pure devotees can give us pure Krishna consciousness for Krishna is the ultimate goal of all goals.

The sun is very far from us, but its rays are near to us; in the same way, although Lord Krishna Himself is very far from us, His devotees are near us. If we can surrender to and take shelter in Krishna's devotees, we can progress on the path of devotion. We cannot reach the sun, but we can feel its warmth and light if we come in contact with just one sun ray. Similarly, we cannot reach Krishna, but we can get the association of His devotees – in this way we can get the highest benefit.

Read this book (Guidance 3). You can know how you can come to the Lord (who can give you the Lord), what happens if you listen to what the guru says and what happens if you listen to non-devotees.

10) Question: What happens if I listen to non-devotional talks?

Answer: If we listen to non-devotional talks or take advice from non-devotees, then we will spend millions of lifetimes in illusory bondage serving every single atom of this material world.

If you associate with non-devotees, you will have to keep coming to this material world again and again – you will have to be born again and again as dogs, goats, sheep, cats, etc. If you cannot serve the Lord in this human birth, you will have to again roam throughout all these different species.

14) Question: How can one become a devotee?

Answer: Many people want to become devotees without becoming servants of devotees, without serving devotees. However, it is impossible to become a devotee without becoming a servant of devotees. Many of us are non-devotees, but we think we are devotees. What is my position? I am not a devotee – I cannot constantly serve the Lord. Sometimes we have the ego of a man and we are drawn to the beauty of women; sometimes we have the ego of a woman and we are drawn to men—can such an atheist, sinner and the lowliest of men as myself ever become a devotee?

Never pride yourself on being a devotee. Do not think that you have become a devotee. Remember this.

20) Question: What happens if one commits an offence to a Vaishnav or the Holy Name?

Answer: Nama-aparadh and Vaishnav-aparadh are two sides of the same coin. As a result of an offence to the Holy Name, one will try to enjoy or feel enthusiastic to follow selfish pursuits and accumulate knowledge. Sriman Mahaprabhu said that the Holy Name never comes to the mouths of offenders to the Holy Name—the letters of the Name may come, but not the pure Holy Name. When one makes an offence to the Lord, Vaishnavs can remove that offence, but if one makes an offence to the feet of these Vaishnavs, then who is there in this world to remove their offence? So, both offences to the Holy Name and to Vaishnavs must be given up.

The result of committing offences to the Holy Name is that you will want to enjoy. Therefore, do not make any offences to the Holy Name or Vaishnavs.

24) Question: What is the reason of our suffering?

Answer: If we do not discuss the answer to the question 'Who am I?', then we experience difficulties in life. Various temptations of material life try to drown us. The moment we drop our guard, Witch Maya grabs us by the throat. Unless we do perpetually listen to discussions about Krishna consciousness, there is no way for us to escape the bondage of Maya.

কৃষ্ণভক্ত—নিষ্কাম, অতএব 'শান্ত' ।
ভুক্তি-মুক্তি-সিদ্ধি-কামী—সকলি 'অশান্ত' ॥

krsna-bhakta—niskama, ataeva 'santa'
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami—sakali 'asanta'

'A devotee of Krishna has no desires and is always peaceful. Those who have material desires, who desire liberation or some perfection, are always lusty and never know peace.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.19.149)

Remember this. We do not want liberation. We will keep our foot on the head of liberation and go on towards devotion. There are four kinds of liberation: sayujya (merging with Brahman), sarupya (having the same body as the Lord), salokya (residing at the same planet as the Lord), samipya (being an associate of the Lord), sarsti (having the same opulences as the Lord). If you merge into the Lord, you will not find your existence anymore. We do not want this. We only always want to serve the Lord. Our duty is to serve the Lord, and however the Lord keeps us – whatever He sends us – we will only always continue doing our service. Remember this.

— : • : —

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Prodigal's Favourite, Miser's Pensioner
2) Material Diseases
3) Master's Property
4) 'I Am My Gurudev's'
5) Disciple Lives in Guru's Shelter
6) Day for Service, Life for Service
7) Foundation of Knowledge
8) Pitfalls and Benefits
9) Temple Life
10) Keep Well