(4/7) Disciple's Determination

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Tarakeswar, evening, 27 September 2019, part 4
Translated from Bengali

মূকং করোতি বাচালং পঙ্গুং লঙ্ঘয়তে গিরিম্ ।
যৎকৃপা তমহং বন্দে শ্রীগুরুং দীনতারণম্ ॥

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam

'The dumb can speak, the lame can climb a hill – all it takes is mercy from Gurudev."

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First, I am offering my full obeisance at the reddish soles of my Divine Master Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj’s holy feet, begging him for his causeless mercy and aspiring to serve him; after that, I am offering my full obeisance to all guru-varga, all my godbrothers, all the listeners, all the motherly lady devotees and all the devotees. I am offering my obeisance at your holy feet and praying for your mercy to this lowly soul.

One time, Guru Maharaj told me about the first time when he had just come to the temple. He told, 'When I came to the temple, some treated me bad (some criticised me), some did not give me food, but no matter how much I have had to struggle, I have never left the temple. They did not give me proper food or nourishment, they did not give me clothes – whatever! I have had that kind of determination from the beginning. No matter what misfortune I have had to face, I have never thought of leaving the Math. There are enemies in this world, but I think that the enemies that I have inside me are much stronger than those external enemies. These internal enemies are the ones that make us leave service – they take us away from our temple and service.'

What are those internal enemies? It is a lack of faith (asraddha, অশ্রদ্ধা) and slacking in service (saithilya, শৈথিল্য). A lack of faith means having no faith or losing your faith day by day; and slacking in your service means you do some service, but then you start to neglect it and day by day you do less and less. In the end you say, 'Leave it, brother! I have seen what temple life is like, there is no point in it. I would rather leave and get married. I have seen what life at the temple is like; let me now go and see what married life is like. Maybe it is more fun.'

Guru Maharaj continued, 'We have seen so many souls in the zoo. So many jiva souls get married and later come to the temple; but you see some problems at the temple and you want to go to that family life others run away from. Many also come at a young age and after a while decide to get married – they go back home, get married and again sink into material life. Just as in the zoo all kinds of birds chirp and screech and monkeys grimace showing their teeth, in the same way material desires obstruct one’s practice of Krishna consciousness.

'You have been given a separate room. They have given you respect, honour, received you cordially, but if one day you do not get such respectful treatment, you will have to sleep in the nat-mandir; if you are sick, nobody will give you medication – then you will say, "That this is abuse," and leave Krishna consciousness. "If gurudev chastises me and others insult me, I want to leave Krishna consciousness." Is that so? I want to know what you think in your mind.'

Very strong words, are they not?

Gurudev also said, 'I do not particularly chastise or discipline anyone because there are no suitable disciples who can be chastised. If you get some position here, if you are flattered, then you stay at the temple; and when you are severely rebuked, you say, “That is it. Dandavat. If gurudev does not like me, then what more is there for me to hope for? How can I depend on him? I would rather stay at home than at the temple. He chastises me, he hates me, then what is the use staying at the temple?” Srila Prabhupad said, “Everyone is my guru, I have no disciples.” That is why he never chastised anyone, and neither do I. If I chastise someone, the person can become offended and leave Krishna consciousness. What will become of them then? That is why I do not chastise anyone. I have chosen one person, and I can chastise them; as for anybody else, I cannot chastise them.

'If somebody thinks, "I have taken a guru, but I will not accept his chastisement," then you can understand that this is not a disciple. There is a seed of spiritual benefit planted within chastisement. If somebody gives you mouth, kicks you, beats you with a broom, what will you do? "By your mercy I have understood that but for you I have no other way. Where will I go? What will I do? Even if I ruin my life, I will still stay at the house of my guru" – if you think like this, then your determination is perfect. You must be firm, "My wife, son and other family members can leave me, but I can never leave my guru."'

— : • : —

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Tarakeswar: Turning Point
2) Jewel Devotees
3) Rectifying Stray Temples
4) Disciple's Determination
5) The Meaning of Kirtan
6) Guru-Disciple Sambandha
7) Service Attracts More Service