(3/10) Internal and External Transformation

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Morning class during village preaching
16 February 2020, part 3
Translated from Bengali

Only taking initiation is not everything. It is necessary to please the Lord. What makes the Lord happy? "I only took initiation, but I do not practise anything, I do not listen to what Gurudev says; I live as I please." This is not right. It is necessary to engage in Hari-kirtan: in glorification of the Lord's pastimes and Holy Name. The Lord is always happy when He is served through sravan (listening about the Lord) and kirtan (chanting the Lord's glories). Always serve the Lord through kirtan. At the same time, if you do kirtan, does it mean that you will stop all other services? For example, when you are stirring a pot with a stir paddle, you can chant, "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare." What is the problem if you do that? If you chant in this way, then Radharani will come and cook—you will only stir the pot and chant. You can cut the vegetables in this way also. This is how you practise Hari-kirtan.

You must also wear Tulasi neckbeads. You think that if you wear Tulasi neckbeads, people will bully you. It is all right—they can say something for one day, two days, three days; after that, they will stop. If you wear a golden necklace and somebody attacks you and take it away, you will feel very upset, but Tulasi neckbeads are worth much more than a golden necklace. Who can understand its value? If you wear Tulasi, the Lord will be happy. Also, if you wear Tulasi on your neck, Yamaduts (the messengers of Lord Yama) will not be able to touch your body. When you leave your body, messengers of Lord Yama come and quickly take you away, but if you have Tulasi neckbeads on, then messengers from Vaikuntha, messengers of Vaishnavs and the Lord, will come instead. So, always wear Tulasi neckbeads. Even if you scrub yourself with soap and one–two beads come out, it is not a problem. Always keep spare beads. Why are you shy to wear Tulasi beads? You must wear neckbeads, you must put tilaks. What is the problem? People will criticise, let them. There are people whose job is to criticise others, then they will do that.

If somebody criticises me, it does not touch me. If somebody swears you, does it leave a blister or any wound on you body? Will it poke your eye? Those who swear are injured, not you. Rather, if you tolerate it, you will be gainer. Remember this. When somebody tells me something bad, somebody scolds me or does anything to me, the person who does it commits an offence, and that person will suffer, committing a sin, but it does not affect me in any way. It is necessary to tolerate it. You must have this kind of patience, tolerance and intelligence.

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Length: 87 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Life Suffused with Kirtan
2) Listen with Your Heart
3) Internal and External Transformation
4) Create a Relationship
5) Always Think about Hari-Katha
6) Connection with the Transcendental
7) Inane Interests
8) Bhakta-Vatsala Krishna
9) Become Pure Servant
10) Come to Worship the Lord