Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Chanting of the Holy Name avoiding tenfold offences in the company of
Suddha Bhaktas (Pure devotees) is the only way to get emancipation from
miseries of the world and to get Absolute Bliss.

We should chant the Holy Name of Sri Krishna or Glories of Sri Krishna,
His Name, Form, Attributes and Pastimes with the fourfold divine
qualities—being humbler than blade of grass, more forbearing than
tree,  having no desire for name and fame, but according due respect to
all.

Any serious endeavour for eternal devotional benefit will be successful,
if it is done by invoking grace of Divine Master, Revered Vaishnavas
and Supreme Lord for the purpose of propitiating Them only and not for
any other purpose. Any desire for mundane name and fame or for any other
ulterior motive will frustrate our devotional, spiritual life. We
should remember the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu- "Trinadapi
Suneechena, Tarorapi Sahisnuna, Amanina Manadena Kirtanya Sada Hari."

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

We do not know when we have become averse to God - to our Supreme Master
Sri Krishna. We do not find any date here. We have forgotten our
relation with Sri Krishna from time immemorial. When we became averse to
Sri Krishna by misuse of our relative independence, the illusory energy
(external material energy) of Sri Krishna enveloped us and since then
we have been passing through innumerable cycles of births and deaths.
We reap the fruits of our own good and bad deeds. We should not blame
others for the afflictions we get due to our own Karma. Others may be
instrumental, but not the cause. The result of Karma (Prarabdha Karma)
which has started should be suffered or enjoyed — whether he is an
ascetic or a householder.
Only Shudhabhakti or suddha Nam can destroy the fruits of even
Prarabdha-Karma.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

Srila Gurudev arrived in Kolkata safely from Puri dham on 24th of this month.
Currently, He is exhibiting pastimes of good health.

In Puri, Srila Gurudev's schedule was jam-packed -- Harikatha on 3 days, darsan
to devotees, attending Rathayatra and Harinam initiations -- all in the span of
6 days. We tried to webcast the Harikathas on all the 3 days but due to poor
internet connectivity we could neither provide you seamless video nor audio nor
both. We deeply apologize for the same. However, we have now uploaded the audio
of Harikatha spoken on all the 3 days on www.sreecgmath.org . Those who are
conversant with Indian language can listen to the audio. For others, we will try
to provide translation at a later stage.

Photographs captured on the day of Srila Gurudev's arrival in Puri and memories
from bygone years are uploaded in the pictures section.

Links to audio files below.
http://www.sreecgmath.org/scgmtimes/scgmaudio.php?category=fullkatha&aid=101&med\
iaid=341

http://www.sreecgmath.org/scgmtimes/scgmaudio.php?category=fullkatha&aid=101&med\
iaid=342

http://www.sreecgmath.org/scgmtimes/scgmaudio.php?category=fullkatha&aid=101&med\
iaid=343


Sri Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

As long as the sweetness of Sri Krishna is not tasted, this tug-of-war
between worldly attraction and Krishna bhakti will continue. We cannot
give up our attraction for worldly objects unless and until we get the
taste of the transcendental sweetness of Name, Form, Attributes and
Pastimes of Sri Krishna. Of course, even at the stage of Sadhana-Bhakti
we can have some feeling of the transcendental sweetness of Sri Krishna.
Progress in the Sadhana depends on the intensity of our devotional
practice.
In our devotional spiritual cultivation we are to practise detachment
from worldly objects and attachment to Sri Krishna simultaneously. We
are to give more stress on positive practice than to negative practice.
Remembrance of the things of the world come to our mind indirectly, when
we try to withdraw ourselves from those undesirable temporary things of
the world, whose ultimate consequence is severe suffering, at the time
of separation. If we always remember Sri Krishna, devote ourselves to
the service of Sri Krishna, Who is All-Good, All-Existence,
All-Knowledge and All-Bliss, we will be automatically withdrawn from
worldly objects.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,

Dandavat Pranams.
There will be videoconference of Srila Gurudev's darsan while devotees give
Pushpanjali to His Lotus Feet today at 7.30 PM IST on www.sreecgmath.org

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagvat Gita (18.62) "O son of Bharat,
Surrender unto Him utterly. By His Grace you will attain Transcendental
peace and Supreme and eternal abode." Complete unconditional surrender
to the Lotus Feet of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna can only bestow on us
eternal peace. The moment we shall submit to Sree Krishna
unconditionally, our all ills and sufferings will go. `Sharanagati' is
the best medicine for cure of all afflictions and the solution of all
problems. False egos create false interests and by that clashing of
interests we see the forest fire in this world. Supreme Lord Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu has said, if individual spirit souls can have the knowledge
that they are interrelated with love relation, this forest fire of
clashing of interests will stop. So Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said,
Divine Love is the best and only solution of the disturbed situation of
the world. That Divine Love (Prema-Bhakti) for the Supreme Lord can be
cultivated by `Nama-Sankirtan' –chanting of the Holy Name of Supreme
Lord, viz. Krishna, Rama, Govinda, Madhava, etc.

In the present age, `Nama-Sankirtan' is the best medicine and effective
way to achieve the summum bonum of human life as it can be performed
under any sort of circumstances. Nama-Sankirtan is a universal religion
under whose banner people of all sects and rank can unite. Sree
Chaitanya Gaudiya Math institution is engaged in the propagation of the
all-embracing doctrine of Transcendental Divine Love of Lord Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to counter the present trend of violence and
cruelty and to bring unity of hearts amongst all irrespective of caste,
creed and religion.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

On the 8th July (Sunday) there will be webcast of Srila Gurudev's transcendental
darsan at 7.20 PM from Kolkata Math.

Hope to see you during the webcast.
Please join chat during the webcast for assistance.

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

— Namastaka written by Srila Rupa Goswami

O Harinam! (Holy Name of Supreme Lord— Hari) The Upanishads— the summit philosophical portion of the entire Vedas— the effulgence of jewels is incessantly worshiping your Holy Lotus Feet by the radiation of waving lamps. You are always worshipped also by renowned realized souls— Sree Narad and Sree Sukdev. The transcendental glory of the Holy Spiritual Name is revealed in the tongues of the realized souls who are inclined to serve Him. Therefore, O Harinam! I take absolute shelter to Thy Lotus Feet whole-heartedly.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

"If we engage our sense organs by hearing about Krishna, by speaking about
Krishna, by remembering Krishna, what benefit will we get?" Generally people
think that they should get some benefit from their activities. Here tonight,
several devotees have attended, and in other places we see that the number
attending may be less. But, if we were to announce in the streets that each
person who attended a class here in Stanley Halls to hear a talk from a devotee
and to chant the Holy Name would be given $1,000, how many people do you think
would come then? You would have to call the police because so many people would
become devotees for two hours. They would earn $1,000 and consider their time
well spent. There would be no empty space in this room. But if you were to
announce that if they were to come to hear saints from India and be rescued from
the clutches of maya, from the entanglement in worldly, non-eternal things and
go to the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord, they would not come. "What is this?
They would say, "If we go there, they should give us something." They would not
come. Everybody is thinking of how to make efficient use of his time—and time is
money. It should not be utilized without any purpose. This is the mentality.
"What is the purpose of coming into contact with a sädhu?" It is very difficult
to recognize a bonafide sadhu.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

All are connected with the same reality, the Supreme Lord. We have come from the
Supreme Lord. We are in the Supreme Lord. We are by the Supreme Lord. As we have
come from the same source, we should have love for all creatures. If we can see
that reality, then we can understand the purpose of the teachings of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Natha Cakravarti has summed this up in one verse:

aradhyo bhagavan vrajeaa-tanayastad-dhama vrndavanam
ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita
srimad-bhagvatam pramanam amalam prema pumartho mahan
sri caitanya-mahaprabhur matam idam tatradaro nah parah
(from Caitanya-manjusa, a commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam)

These are the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a nutshell. The highest
object of worship is Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja. You can obtain all
kinds of bliss if you worship Sri Nandanandana Krisna. His transcendental realm
is Vrindavana and among the devotees of Nandanandana Sri Krishna, the highest
devotees are the gopis. They are doing everything for the service of Sri
Krishna. You will find evidence of this in Srimad Bhagavatam. You should aim for
the highest object. What is the highest object? Not money. If you get money,
will you be happy? Sometimes wealthy people invite us to their homes, but I have
never met a wealthy person who is happy. When our Paramgurudeva Tridandi Swami
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, (the gurudeva of all our guruvarga
including our Param Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja) was in Sri
Mayapur at the time of the British regime, all the queens of the kings of Jaipur
and Tripura would come to see this holy city. At that time Mayapur was not so
developed. People who came there had to walk there on foot. As this was very
difficult, the queens employed the help of horses, guards, servants and
maidservants. Everybody was astounded to see such a display of wealth. Outside
people thought, "They must be most happy." One of the queens of Jaipur wanted to
speak privately with our Paramgurudeva, who then requested all persons to leave.
"Swamiji," she said, "I am most unfortunate! Although I am married, I am not
permitted any connection with my husband or my family. I am kept in a restricted
place and cannot go anywhere. For one year I have been so dissatisfied. I want
to commit suicide, but suicide is a great sin. I am so unfortunate that even the
beggar or a pauper is happier than I! Please bless me that I should never be
born in a royal family again!"
Gurudeva was astounded!

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

Tomorrow (15 July, Sree Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi) between 8.00 and 8.15 PM IST there
will be video conference of Srila Gurudev's darsan from Kolkata on
www.sreecgmath.org

Kindly be present on time as the conference is strictly going to be in the time
span mentioned. Join chat for assistance.

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Everywhere that there is no family connection, people ultimately become
frustrated and suicidal. Everybody wants love from others. For want of love,
people become very disheartened and dissatisfied. Sons and daughters go to visit
their father and mother in their old family home for a few minutes, but no love
is there. They come only as a matter of etiquette. Rich persons are not happy
and poor persons are not happy. Learned persons are not happy and uneducated
persons are also not happy. A man may think, "If I marry and get a beautiful
wife, then I shall be happy." But those who are married will tell you that they
are not happy. Those who are not married will tell you that they are also not
happy. We think that if we get grandchildren, sons and daughters-in-law, etc.,
then we will become happy. So we are always running after a phantasmagoria. It
is said the scriptures that the rays of the sun reflect off the desert sand.
From a distance, a clean sheet of water can be perceived. The beasts in the
desert, being very thirsty, see this "water," a mirage, and think that if they
run toward it they will get it. So they move forward further and further, but
the water continuously recedes further and further into the distance. But, it is
an illusion of water only and ultimately the beasts will die running after it.
Just like this, people think, "If I get money, I shall be happy. If I get a
beautiful wife, I shall be happy. If I get a son or daughter, I shall be happy,
etc." Afterwards, we shall die, unhappy. This is phantasmagoria—false—because
they are averse to Sri Krishna.

So, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that the root cause of all afflictions is
our aversion to Sri Krishna. He is All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss.
We have an eternal connection with Him—we are the eternal servants of Supreme
Lord, Sri Krishna.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vedavyasa Muni has said:

sravanam kirtanam dhyanam
harer adbhuta-karmanah
janma-karma-gunanam ca
tad-arthe 'khila-cestitam
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11.3.27)

Vedavyasa Muni gave instruction that you should hear about Sri Hari (sravanam):
the name, form, attributes and pastimes of Sri Hari—about His advent in this
world, about His transcendental divine qualities and about His transcendental
pastimes. You have to hear this from a bona fide pure devotee and not from a
platform speaker—those who speak for some worldly benefit. If you hear from
them, you will not be benefited. Their motive is different. You are to associate
with bona fide devotees—those who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives for
the service of Sri Krishna alone, and who have no ulterior motive behind them.
When you hear from such devotees then your mind will go to Sri Krishna. Having
heard, you should repeat it—you should chant whatever you have heard. Chant
(kirtanam). First you engage your ears in the service of Sri Krishna and then
you engage your tongue in the service of Sri Krishna by speaking about Sri
Krishna —whatever you have heard. You should not say anything of your own
creation, as you will not get the actual benefit. Try to remember whatever you
have heard from suddha-bhaktas (pure devotees) and bona fide gurus and pray for
their grace. By their grace alone will you be able to speak—only by the grace of
Guru-Vaisnava-Bhagavan. Without their grace, you cannot serve them. Service is
not accomplished by means of any type of mundane vanity. You should not deliver
a speech at a public meeting to obtain respect from the audience. That is not
your target. Your target is to engage your senses and the objects of the sense
organs in the service of Sri Krishna. Wherever we engage our senses, wherever we
engage the objects of our senses, there we shall go. If we engage our sense
organs, our mind and intellect (both gross and subtle senses) for worldly
things, we will become attached to worldly things. If we engage the same for the
service of Sri Krishna and His devotees, we will become attached to Sri Krishna
and His devotees. So with that aim, with that target, you are to speak for the
satisfaction of Sri Krishna and His devotees. You try to do this, by praying for
the grace of Guru-Bhagavan. Wherever I go, I try to do this, although I have
many frailties and drawbacks. To those who help me in this manner, I am
grateful.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

There will be video conference of Srila Gurudev's darsan at 7.20 PM IST on
Sunday, 22nd July 2012 from Kolkata Math.

Join chat for assistance during the webcast.

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Nobody is to be blamed for our afflictions and drawbacks. We reap the fruits of
our own actions. It was the advice of Sri Narada to Dhruva: 'Don't blame others
for your own sufferings. We get such kind of suffering which we inflict upon
others. As long as we shall have this ignorance of blaming others for our
sufferings, we shall not get the Grace of God.' Dhruva, taking the advice of his
Guru Narada, relinquished his ignorance of blaming others and called God's Name
from the core of his heart with one-pointed devotion. All hindrances of Dhruva
were removed and those persons who were hostile became favourable automatically
without asking for this. God controls and gives the fruits of our actions and
not man. We should rectify our Karmas (acts) without blaming others.

God and His absolute counterpart Gurudeva (Real Gurudeva) are impartial. God is
equal to all. As He is Absolute (Purna), nobody can give Him bribe and nobody
can force Him to do anything which is unjust. But God may test a devotee by
putting him in adverse circumstances to qualify him to get the service of His
Lotus Feet. We shall be successful in the test - examination.

Sincere souls will never be deceived. So don't be disheartened. My love to you
all.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

In Bhagavad-gita, you will find that Lord Krishna says to Arjuna:

mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
(Bhagavad-gita, 15-7)

"The jivas (the living entities) are parts of My potency." When we go through
the scriptures, we should accept all the evidence. So, in this verse Krishna
says that the jivas are parts of His potency and in other verses He says that
they are the outcome of the potency of the Supreme Lord:

bhumir apo `nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahaìkara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

apareyam itas tv anyam
prakrtim viddhi me param
jiva-bhutam maha-baho
yayedam dharyate jagat
(Bhagavad-gita, 7.4-5)

Krishna says He has two kinds of potencies, the inferior (apara) potency and the
superior (para) potency. The inferior potency is comprised of the five gross
elements, namely earth, water, fire, air and ether and also of the three subtle
elements, namely mind, intelligence and perverted ego. The other potency is the
superior or spiritual potency. The atma, or the real self, is the outcome of
this spiritual potency. It is different from this gross material body and the
subtle astral body. So, this material body is the outcome of the apara potency
and the real self is the outcome of the para potency. Potencies should exist for
the possessor of those potencies. Any part of a potency should be for the
pleasure of the Eternal Master and Enjoyer of all these potencies. So this is
our natural function: Krishna is eternal, His potencies are eternal, and the
parts of His potencies are eternal.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

In this Kali-yuga, if we try to remember Sri Krishna by meditation, which is
prescribed for Satya-yuga, the golden age, we will not be able to remember. Our
minds are very restless, dwelling on the non-eternal things of the world.
Impressions of lakhs (100,000) and lakhs of births are stored in the mind. There
are four kinds of piety: tapah, saucam, daya, and satyam (austerity,
cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness). In Treta-yuga, when one of these four
(tapah) had become diminished, it was not possible to practice meditation. Then
sacrifice to Lord Vishnu was prescribed. If you have attachment for worldly
things, you should give those worldly things for the service of Bhagavan Sri
Krishna. In this way, you can concentrate on the ultimate target of worship.
This could be accomplished in Satya-yuga by meditation, and in Treta-yuga by
sacrifice.
In Dvapara-yuga, two kinds of piety had become diminished, tapah and saucam.
People became more influenced by the senses and became incapable of uttering
mantras correctly. Thus, they could not perform sacrifice. So the people of this
era were told, "You should worship the Deity and engage all the senses and the
objects of the senses in this way." All indriyas, all gross and subtle senses,
including the mind, should be engaged in the service of Sri Krishna. If you
serve the Deity, you have dedicated all the sense organs and all the objects of
the sense organs. The purpose of this is to develop concentration on the object
of devotion.
But in Kali-yuga we cannot perform Deity worship because we are diseased. A
diseased person is prohibited from Deity worship. We are incapable of rising
early in the morning. We cannot sit in the temple for a long time. Two or three
hours are required for worship. After half an hour, we become distracted. We are
diseased, so how can we worship? There is one sloka:

krte yad dhyayato vishnu
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapara paricaryayam
kalau tad hari-kirtanat
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 12.3.52)

"Whatever benefit human beings received in Satya-yuga by meditation, in
Treta-yuga by sacrifice and in Dvapara-yuga by Deity worship, they can receive
in Kali-yuga by the chanting of the Holy Name."

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!
Revered Vaishnavas,

Dandavat Pranams.

Most Revered Srila Gurudev will speak Harikatha on July 29, 2012 on the holy
Sree Pavitraropani Ekadasi, the starting day of Sree Sree Radha Govinda's Jhulan
Yatra.

Video Conference of Kirtans and Harikatha will begin at 7.30 PM IST. Live
English translation of Harikatha. Join chat for assistance during webcast. Visit
www.sreecgmath.org

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

A household devotee should lead his household life for the service of Sri
Krishna and His devotees, relinquishing all anti-devotional acts and habits. Sri
Krishna is the Master of the house and the inmates of the house are His
servitors. It is the advice of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to household
devotees - that they should worship Deities, they should serve Vaishnavas and
they should perform 'Harinama Sankirtan'. If there is any difficulty in
performing Archan of Deities, they must serve Vaishnavas and do Nama-Sankirtana.
With the association of Suddha - Bhaktas they will get inspiration, it will be a
reminder to them that their life is for the service of Sri Krishna and for
nothing else. It is very difficult for a householder to remain totally aloof
from the transitory surroundings and the influence of the temporary physical
relations.
It is the instruction of Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Grihastha Vaishnavas:
1) To do Harinama,
2) To serve Vaishnavas and
3) To worship Deities.
If there is any difficulty for 'Sree vigraha seva' (worship of deities), they
should do at least 'Harinama' and 'Vaishnav-seva'.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sri Rupa Goswami has taught us how to associate with the sadhu. If you behave
with love by mere speaking, is not association. How we behave with the object of
our love? The six-fold behavior – from whom we have got love, we give something.
We feed them sumptuously and take their food. We open our hearts and hear the
feeling of their hearts. If we deal with the conditioned souls of this world, we
will have association. You have to give something to the sadhu. The sadhu will
then offer it to the Supreme Lord. He will again give you prasad. The poison
will be removed.



This sort of exchange should be developed with the sadhu. You should divert your
heart to the sadhu and sadhu will also divert. He will then speak about
`rasa-bhajan' – the significance of bhajan. He will speak everything to you. If
you speak your heart, he will speak to you. You have to serve him with love and
you take whatever he gives you. This is called `sanga prasanga'. If you use this
prasanga, close association with the sudha bhaktas and also serve them, then you
will have real association.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

Kindly join the Video conference of Jhulan Yatra of Sree Radha Nayananath Jiu
and darsan of Srila Gurudev on the holy Sree Baladev Purnima (August 2, 2012)
between 7.05 PM and 7.45 PM IST.

Note that chat assistance is available during video conference.
Visit www.sreecgmath.org

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

We should bear in mind that in this Kali-yuga, we will not be able to find the
strength to perform Harinama alone. This is stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as
well as His personal associate, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura:

ekaki amara, nahi paya bala
hari-nama-sankirtane
(from saranagati by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura)

In this Kali-yuga, we should perform congregational chanting. If we go to chant
alone in the mountains, Harinama will be very difficult. You should go on
chanting in a congregation, with devotees, uttering the name of Krishna. In the
company of bonafide sadhus, you will get the strength to do Harinama. If you do
it alone, you will not find the strength. You will find so many devotees in our
Maths are always engaged in this congregational chanting because they know this
is the only procedure for this Kali-yuga. So with groups of such devotees, you
should chant Harinama and your remembrance will continue and continue. If I
remain in a secluded place and I have impressions in my mind of lakhs and lakhs
of births, I may not remain there. However, if I always keep the company of
sadhus who are speaking about Krishna, then I will always be hearing about
Krishna and I shall always carry Him within me. Every place I go I will have to
speak about Krishna. In this way, I am compelled to think about Krishna and I
shall not have time to think about any other topic. Those who are listening are
increasing my service. In this way, we can have concentration. This is the
process.

Perform congregational chanting with devotees, not with those who are in the
business of selling this Harinäma and spiritual discourses: "Give me $1000 and I
will give a discourse." The ultimate target is Bhagavan. Take absolute shelter
of Harinama and go on chanting. Krishna is sustaining, He is maintaining. So,
you should have firm belief.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

When there are different centers of interests, nobody can avoid clashing of
individuals, groups, nations etc. As for example, if circles are drawn with
different centers, circumferences will cross, but if there is one center of
interest there may be smaller or bigger circles but there will be no crossing.
According to Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu there should be knowledge of the
real self, real interest and one center of interest. Supreme Lord Sree Krishna
who is Achyuta can only be the common center of interest from whom all the
spirit souls have emanated.

If we pour water at the root of the tree, whole tree is nourished with all its
parts, in like manner, by serving Krishna we serve all. Non-Violence is to
refrain from doing injury to others – it is negative, but love is to do positive
good to others. If anybody has got pure love to any person, he cannot have the
impetus to inflict injuries to any part of the object of his love. If we get
love for Krishna, we cannot have the impetus to inflict injuries to any of His
parts emanating from His marginal potency. All Jivas are interrelated through
their relation to Sree Krishna.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

Kindly join the video conference of Srila Gurudev's transcendental darsan on 05
August 2012 (Sunday) at 7.10 PM IST on www.sreecgmath.org

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

There is the internal potency and the external potency, and in between these is
the marginal potency, which has a connection with both the internal and the
external potencies. The jiva, the real self, is the eternal servant (nitya-dasa)
of the Supreme Person Sri Krishna and is the outcome of the marginal potency
(tatastha-sakti) of the Supreme Lord. A vertical line can be diverted to either
side, and also a river can be diverted to the sea. Like that, when we become
averse to Sri Krishna, the external potency envelops us and brings us to this
world to pass through cycles of births and deaths. If we have the desire to
obtain emancipation then we have to cross over that marginal potency and enter
into the internal potency. We have to submit to that internal potency, the
superior potency. To get that which is superior, we have to submit. That
concrete form of the superior potency is the suddha-bhakta—sad-guru. If anyone
submits to the sad-guru, he will become blessed and enter into the internal
potency. By entering into the internal potency we will get the transcendental,
sweet, spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, Vrindavana, etc.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

The jivas, or the real selves, are the eternal servants of Sri Krishna. The
cause of our affliction is forgetfulness of our relationship with Supreme Lord
Sri Krishna. So we have to remember Him. How can we remember Him? If we can
always remember Krishna then there will be no more difficulty. He is
All-Existence, All-Knowledge, All-Bliss and this worldly existence is just the
opposite—it is the shadow of the internal potency of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.
When we become averse we see the shadow. The shadow of a tree resembles the
tree, but in the shadow of the tree there is no substance. In the tree there is
substance. Similarly, the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna is All-Substantiality. But
when we become averse to Him, we see nescience before us, devoid of existence,
devoid of knowledge, and devoid of happiness. But we perceive it to be eternal.
As Brahma says:

tasmad idam jagad asesam asat-svarupam
svapnabham asta-dhisanam puru-duhkha-duhkham
tvayy eva nitya-sukha-bhodha-tanav anante
mayata udyad api yat sad ivavabhati
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 10. 14. 22)

The entire material cosmos, not just this world, is non-eternal, perishable. It
is like a dream. At the time of seeing a dream, we think it to be reality. When
we awaken from a dream, we realize it was all false. Like this, everything we
are seeing of these non-eternal relations is a dream. We are laughing, we are
crying, etc. But when we wake up from it we shall see that it is all nothing.
"Svapnabham asta-dhisanam:" Brahma says that if we engage our intellect in
matter, in non-eternal things, in order to get material development, then our
intelligence will be finished. Yet we think that it is a very wise person who is
dedicating his energy to cultivate material development. We say, "You are wise."
But here Brahma says that this person's knowledge will be finished:
asta-dhisanam. Instead of happiness, he is getting severe miseries. Everyone
wants happiness. Yes, he is trying to find happiness, but he is misdirected.
Being averse to Sri Krishna, he is going towards the mirage: "If I get this or
that thing, I shall be happy." This world seems to eternally exist, it seems to
possess knowledge and it seems therefore, to possess happiness. But it is in
fact devoid of existence, devoid of knowledge and devoid of happiness.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj