(2/5) Practise and Preach

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Tarakeshwar, evening class, 11 July 2020, part 2
Translated from Bengali

It is necessary to be simple and sincere. Simplicity is the main quality of a Vaishnav (saralata-i vaisnavata). It is necessary to be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree and to give honour to others. These are the symptoms of a Vaishnav.

তৃণাদপি সুনীচেন তরোরিব সহিষ্ণুনা ।
অমানিনা মানদেন কীর্ত্তনীয়ঃ সদা হরিঃ ॥

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

'One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives due honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 3.6.239)

There must be no duplicity. Do not dis anyone.

Even if you have not come to this line yet, you can start from.

যেই ভজে, সেই বড়, অভক্ত—হীন, ছার ।
কৃষ্ণভজনে নাহি জাতি-কুলাদি বিচার ॥

yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta—hina, chhara
krsna-bhajane nahi jati-kuladi-vichara

'Only a non-devotee can be considered as worthless and abominable: anyone who takes to devotional service is great – there is no consideration of class, caste, or any other status for those who have taken up service to Krishna.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 3.4.67)

কিবা বিপ্র, কিবা ন্যাসী, শূদ্র কেনে নয় ।
যেই কৃষ্ণতত্ত্ববেত্তা, সেই ‘গুরু’ হয় ॥

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya

'It does not matter whether one is a brahman, sannyasi or sudra – whoever knows who Krishna is can become a spiritual master.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.8.128)

Those who genuinely follow the order of their Guru are qualified to become gurus. It is necessary to always think, 'How can I make my Guru happy?' Always be alert and attentive towards that. If you can do properly the service you are given, you will get the highest benefit. 'Chhadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payechhe keba (ছাড়িয়া বৈষ্ণব-সেবা নিস্তার পায়েছে কেবা): Without service to Vaishnavs, you cannot get any relief.' If not service to Vaishnavs, then what or who can rescue us? We must serve devotees.

We were chanting in one of the kirtans just now: 'Sukhe duhkhe bhule nako vadane Harinam koro re (সুখে দুঃখে ভুলো নাক, বদনে হরিনাম কর রে ): in happiness or sadness, never forget it, always chant the Holy Name.' It is not that we will remember the Lord only when we are unhappy and when we are happy, we forget about Him. No. Happiness and unhappiness are equal. 'Vipade sampade taha thakuk samabhave (বিপদে সম্পদে তাহা থাকুক সমভাবে): May my love for You not waver at bad or good times.' When people get sick and get into hospital, they cry to the Lord and ask Him to save them, but before they said, 'There is no God!' That is why our faith and love for God should be the same whether we are in danger or not.

If you can spend you life practising Krishna consciousness in this way, it will be good. Practise and preach. If you only practise and do not preach, it is not right, and if you preach but do not practise, it is also not good. "Achar-prachar Namer adhikarya: One earns the right to chant the Holy Name by both practising and preaching." Therefore, it is necessary to preach also. Preach according to your capacity. Do not eat alone – you have to share what you are eating with others. Tell about the Lord to others (tell whatever you know) and always remember the Lord yourself. Telling others about the Lord is a great work. We did not come to this world to become brick-layers and carpenters. We are only postmen delivering the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Postmen go house to house delivering letters, and Mahaprabhu's devotees go house to house distributing the Holy Name and telling everyone about Mahaprabhu. You must deliver the teachings of Krishna consciousness door to door!

ভজ গৌরাঙ্গ, কহ গৌরাঙ্গ, লহ গৌরাঙ্গের নাম রে
যে জন গৌরাঙ্গ ভজে, সেই আমার প্রাণ রে

bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera nama re
ye jana gauranga bhaje, sei amara prana re

"Worship Gauranga! Say Gauranga! Take Gauranga's Name! Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul!"

(Sriman Nityananda Prabhu)

Call out, 'Doyal Nitai! Hare Krishna!' You are staying at home now, during the lockdown, but you must always engage yourself in reading, chanting, listening. The Lord has sent us to this world to chant His Holy Name and to preach about Him.

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Love for Service
2) Practise and Preach
3) Remember Your Nitya Svarup
4) Life in Remembrance
5) Priorities in Life