(4/4) Servitor's Pride

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Divine Appearance Day, Sri Vyasa Puja
Kolkata—East London, 17 October 2020, part 4

You always keep me in your heart, that is sufficient for me, and I also try to keep you in my heart. Gurudev is giving so much love and affection to you all, that is why you are always with me. And now, in your old age, you are also celebrating my birthday... Actually, I was born in the lowest family where there was no such culture to celebrate anybody's birthdays, but now I am enjoying my birthday celebration with you all. I am very lucky and fortunate to have you all. It is a very great fortune for me.

Gurudev always remembered the Green Street temple, and you are serving and taking care of the temple all together, serving in this way. I am very happy with that. The Green Street temple is our first and main centre in London (West London Math appeared later). I am very happy to see you all.

Actually, it is very fortunate and auspicious for me because when I made Gurudev's appearance day, I spent much money and Gurudev never minded me spending money on his appearance day. Rather, he always told me how to make vaishnav-seva and taught me what he had learned from his Guru Maharaj, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Many of Param Guru Maharaj's godbrothers (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj and many others) always came to the temple to listen to Guru Maharaj's lectures, and Gurudev got an opportunity to serve them. Then, Gurudev taught me how to serve and vaishnav-seva (service to Vaishnavs) because without vaishnav-seva, without service to devotees, all our attempts, including making festivals, would be nothing. 'Chhadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payechhe keba (ছাড়িয়া বৈষ্ণব-সেবা নিস্তার পায়েছে কেবা): Without service to Vaishnavs, you cannot get any relief.' Without service to Vaishnavs, who can rescue us in this kind of illusory environment?

Gurudev always told that in this Age of Kali, it is very difficult to conquer Maya, the illusory environment, and it is very difficult to conquer pratistha (name and fame). You can conquer kanak (thirst for money) and kamini (attraction to women), but it is very hard to give up pratistha. 'Vaisnavi pratistha, tate koro nistha (বৈষ্ণবী প্রতিষ্ঠা তাতে কর নিষ্ঠা): you must firmly establish yourself in the consciousness that you are a servant of the Lord' (Vaishnav ke?). Sri Madhavendra Puri ran away from pratistha (he actually ran to Puri because he was afraid of pratistha). But pratistha went before him: when he reached Puri, all Puri devotees and general people already knew that Gopinath had stolen some kheer (condensed milk) for Madhavendra Puri. But when it come to this kind of pratistha, we must give respect to it; otherwise, we will have to go to hell. We must respect such pratistha.

So, who can ignore pratistha? Even if I go to a jungle or a hill or live in some cave in Rishikesh without any food, water, bathroom or anything else, I will not be able to avoid the pratistha that 'I have left everything.' I can leave everything, but I cannot leave the pride, or the consciousness, that 'I have left everything.' That is why it is very difficult to avoid pratistha. Do you understand what I am saying?

Gurudev always said that pratistha is always for gurudev. You must give everything, including pratistha, to gurudev. When somebody gives you a garland, you must only remember your guru and giving that garland to his lotus feet. That is the main thing. Otherwise, you will not be able to avoid pratistha. It is very difficult to avoid it. There is artha (wealth) and anaratha (evils) – you can give up both, but you cannot give up pratistha. I wrote about it in my book, Guidance 3 (Chapter 'The Unrenounceable').

Now it is time for everybody to take prasad, and I would like to take your leave. It was very nice to see you all. Please forgive my offence...

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
All East and West London devotees ki jay
Harinama-sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Enriched with Service
2) Internal Inconsistencies
3) Big Temple Is Not All
4) Servitor's Pride