(12/15) Greatest Internal Obstacle

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Bokaro, 3 December 2019, evening, part 12
Translated from Bengali

There are many obstacles that come on the path of devotion. What are they? Lust (kama), nager (krodha), greed (lobha), illusion (moha), madness (mada), envy (matsarya), and so on – if we can overcome all obstacles and serve the Lord, then we can get the highest benefit. Always remember this. Gurudev assumes a human form and stays right there among us, scattering everywhere his causeless mercy. When the Lord's associates assume human forms, we get an opportunity to have their darshan, to hear their message, to follow their guidance, to mix and associate with them

নৃদেহমাদ্যং সুলভং সুদুর্লভং
প্লবং সুকল্পং গুরুকর্ণধারম্ ।
ময়ানুকূলেন নভস্বতেরিতং
পুমান্ ভবাব্ধিং ন তরেৎ স আত্মহা ॥

nr-deham adyam su-labham su-durlabham
plavam su-kalpam guru-karnadharam
mayanukulena nabhasvateritam
puman bhavabdhim na taret sa atma-ha

'Those who get this human body but do not try to practise Krishna consciousness, do not try to cross the ocean of material existence, are suicidal (atmaghati). In this human body there is only one way how you can bring benefit to yourself – this body is like a boat and you must accept a Guru as the captain of this boat. What does the Guru do next? When you surrender at his lotus feet, when within your heart you take shelter in him, he gives you mercy that works like a favourable wind. In this way, propelled by that favourable wind of the Guru's mercy, this boat can take you to your destination. However those who cannot understand who is the captain, what is the mercy of devotion, who do not know what is favourable to devotion, what that favourable wind is, are suicidal.'

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.20.17; translation quoted from Sri Guru Tattva: The Captain of Your Boat)

We have got a human body that is comparable to a boat. If you have a boat, you need a captain or a helmsman who will steer it. The helmsman of our boats is gurudev. If we can surrender to a bona fide guru and live a sheltered life under him, he will explain to me what is necessary for me. It is necessary to surrender to the guru's holy feet.

দৈন্য, আত্মনিবেদন, গোপ্তৃত্বে বরণ ।
‘অবশ্য রক্ষিবে কৃষ্ণ’—বিশ্বাস পালন ॥
ভক্তি-অনুকূল মাত্র কার্য্যের স্বীকার ।
ভক্তি-প্রতিকূল ভাব-বর্জ্জনাঙ্গীকার ॥
ষড়ঙ্গ শরণাগতি হইবে যাঁহার ।
তাঁহার প্রার্থনা শুনে শ্রীনন্দকুমার ॥

dainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
‘avasya raksibe krsna’—visvasa palana
bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara
sad-anga saranagati haibe yanhara
tanhara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara

‘(1) Humility, (2) self-submission, (3) accepting that the Lord is your maintainer, (4) keeping faith that “Krishna will certainly protect”, (5) engaging only in what is favourable to devotion, (6) rejecting what is unfavourable to devotion. Lord Krishna hears the prayers of those who surrender to Him in these six ways.’

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Many people say, 'When I become sixty, then I will start practising spiritual life. Now I must work and take care of my material life.' What if you never live to sixty? Sixty years is the retirement age. At this age, you will by lying in bed, counting days until your death. 'Oh, I will call out to You when I retire' – this is not intelligent; this is just cheating the Lord. You will not be able to practise Krishna consciousness in your old age. You will not be able to focus your mind, you will not be able to feel the taste. You spend your whole life incurring karma, so in your old age you will have to reap the result. What will you be able to do in your old age?! That is why it is necessary to start practising from a young age. Everything has its time.

If you want the supreme happiness found in the supreme abode, start practising Krishna consciousness now, then you will be able to attain the highest benefit. It is written beautifully in Sri Kalyan-kalpataru:

'জীবন সমাপ্তি কালে করিব ভজন,
এবে করি গৃহসুখ ।'
কখন একথা নাহি বলে বিজ্ঞজন,
এ দেহ পতনোন্মুখ ॥

'jivana samapta kale kariba bhajan,
ebe kari grha-sukha'
kakhana ekatha nahi bale vijna-jana
e deha patanonmukha

'"I will practise spiritual life at the end of my life, but now I will enjoy family life at home" – intelligent people will never say such things because this body is bound to perish.'

(Sri Kalyan-kalpataru, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

You can leave this body, leave this world at any moment. Intelligent people do not say that they will practise later, in their old age – only foolish people say such things.

Mahaprabhu's pastimes are filled with magnanimity – He comes and magnanimously distributes His Holy Name in this world. To distribute that Holy Name, Nityananda Prabhu even gave His blood when He was converting Jagai and Madhai. He gave His very life, His very heart to preaching. Guru-varga come and tolerate so many austerities in this world, but they never stop chanting the Holy Name, never stop their service to the Lord, never stop preaching about the Lord. Whatever their situation is, wherever they are, they tolerate everything. Tolerance, or patience, is devotees' main quality. It is necessary to always have patience.

তৃণাদপি সুনীচেন তরোরিব সহিষ্ণুনা ।
অমানিনা মানদেন কীর্ত্তনীয়ঃ সদা হরিঃ ॥

trnad api sunichena taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

‘One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree and who gives honour to others without desiring it for themselves is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.’

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 3.6.239)

It is necessary to be humbler than a blade of grass and it is necessary to have patience. It is necessary to give honour to others. If you want to become a Vaishnav, you cannot become one just by wearing Vaishnav clothes. You must become humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, you must give honour to others. You must always remember this.

— : • : —

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Size: 35 Mb
Length: 72 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Divine Arrangement
2) Embrace Higher Life
3) Beyond Body Consciousness
4) Come Back Home
5) Material and Spiritual Urges
6) Seek Good Association
7) Scattered Hearts
8) Spiritual Interest
9) Result of Mercy and Association
10) Our Near and Dear
11) Do Not Lose Focus
12) Greatest Internal Obstacle
13) Main Priority
14) Clean Your Ears
15) Root of Devotion