Sri Kathamrita

Tav k QaaMa*Ta& TaáJaqvNaMa( tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanam Bindu Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications

Issue No. 236 Çré Indirä Ekädaçé 4 Oct 2010 Circulation 3,400

• Going Beyond Apprenticeship His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

• Bhagavatam Within Chaitanya Charitamrita Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur • Faithfulness to One’s Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakura Highlights • Great Misfortune Ramachandra Das

Going Beyond Apprenticeship His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada The more you are engaged in devotional service, the more your senses become pure or uncovered. And when they are completely uncovered, without any designations, then you are capable of serving Krishna. Vaidhé- is apprenticeship. Real bhakti, parä-bhak- ti, is rägänuga-bhakti. After surpassing vaidhé-bhakti, we have to come to rägänuga-bhakti. In the material world, if we do not try to make further progress in de- votional service, if we are simply sticking to the çästric regulation process and do not try to go beyond that, we remain kaniñöha-adhikärés. The çästric process of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada regulation is required. Without the çästric process you cannot go to that platform. But if we only stick to the One has to do good for others. That is a madhyama- çästric process and do not try to improve ourselves, we adhikäré. If I am satisfied with only worshiping the deity remain kaniñöha-adhikärés. The çästric process is kani- in the temple and following regulative principles, and I ñöha-adhikära, the lowest stage of devotional service. have no other idea, then I am präkåta-bhakta. Präkåta arcäyäm eva haraye püjäà yaù çraddhayehate means on the material platform. Such a devotee can fall na tad-bhakteñu cänyeñu sa bhaktaù präkåtaù småtaù down at any moment because he’s on the präkåta stage. Generally, when people come to the temple they are And präkåta means this guëamayé, prakåti, the three very devoted to the deity. They offer their respects, offer modes of material nature. It is very strong. flowers and other things, follow the regulated process, and Any devotee can fall down if he remains a präkåta- circumambulate. This is a nice beginning. But one has to bhakta. He has to raise himself above this to the level of go above this. One has to know who is actually a devotee. madhyama-adhikära. We are enjoying the interactions

next column   Issue Two Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 2 é[q k* Z

Bhagavatam Within Unknown artist. Painting from the wall of the RadhaGopal temple in Purusottampur village, Orissa. Lord Chaitanya Charitamrita Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sri Krishna’s sports are described in the tenth canto. Saraswati Thakur What, then, is the necessity of the preceding nine cantos? In them has been shown the deliberation True well being will be available to the people of the of these conceptions to prepare the ground for world only if they listen to the discourse on bhägavata introducing the main subject — the description of from one who is himself a person bhägavata, who is lead- Krishna’s transcendental sportive dalliances with ing the practical life of a true devotee without maintaining the gopés of Vraja, in the gopé-gétä, etc., of the tenth the slightest attachment for the life of a karmé or the life canto. There were many who had read the Çrémad of a monistic jïäné. Even if all the books of the world Bhägavatam before came were to be burned, there would be no harm provided into this world. However, the real purport and actual one treatise was left — the Çrémad Bhägavatam. Even if object of the Çrémad Bhägavatam is only compre- thousands of learning centers were to be abolished, there hensible to those who have read it after reading the would be no feeling of inconvenience, provided the read- Çré Caitanya-caritämåta. Çré Caitanya-caritämåta ing and teaching of the Çrémad Bhägavatam would be was written by Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, continued. But what a wonder! What irony! This book of one of the chief followers of the line of Sri Rupa books has been converted into a commodity for traffick- Goswami. These persons have read the Çrémad ing! The course the world is taking is just the opposite of Bhägavatam inside of the Caitanya-caritämåta. the teaching Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave. The unrefined ease-loving people who pretend to There is no other book in the world like the Çré- be vaiñëavas may read the Çrémad Bhägavatam, mad Bhägavatam. This is not mere tittle-tattle or an and the mercenary discoursers may explain it — exaggerated homage. If one reflects on it as a truly but according to the Çri Caitanya-caritämåta they impartial judge, one will realize that there has not only misconstrue and cover the true meaning. Their been, nor will there ever be a book like the Bhäga- elucidation may please the mind of their readers and vatam. This book presents a gradual evolution of hearers, but they only make the way to hell easier conceptions of the absolute, from better to best, as to access for themselves and their admirers. · non-existent, denied, attributeless, neuter, masculine, — From Sri Chaitanya’s Teachings. Edited by Sri Bhakti Vilas Tirtha couple, consort by marriage, and, lastly, paramour. Goswami Maharaja. Sree . Madras. Page 238-241.   Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu top rightIssue 3 Two Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 3 Top left 3 Faithfulness to One’s Guru For this reason, in all circumstances all vai- ñëavas are to be offered respect like one offers Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakura’s respect to one’s spiritual master. However, with Çré Kåñëa-Bhajanämåta, verses 42-58 body, mind and words one serves one’s own sakala-vaiñëavä eva guravaù. tatra dékñä-guravaù spiritual master. In the performance of devotional çikñä-guravaç ca viçeñataù santi tayor eva käryam. activities one can disregard the instructions of All vaiñëavas are to be considered as , spiritual other gurus, but one should not disregard one’s masters. Amongst all the vaiñëavas, the initiating guru own guru’s instructions. One should always re- (dékñä-guru) and instructing guru (çikñä-guru) are main faithfully with one’s own guru. special. It is proper to offer these two a special level of paçya, paçya, yathä pitä gurus tathä tasya bhrätä respect. The orders of these two are to be followed. grajo ’nujaù, pitur adhika-püjyo vä pituç cedätméya eva vä, tathäpi pituù pitä-gurur api guruù, tasya püjä yadi täv alpa-balau tathäpy anya-mahatäm dvi-guëiteti çailé loka-prasiddhä, atra yadi pitaraà mukhäc chikñä viçeñaà jïätväpi gurave deyam. tad kärya-käle ete våthaiva garhayanti, tarhi pataiva gu- eva guruñu paöhanéyaà na tu gurau helä kartavyä, ruù, pituù pakña eva äçrayaëéyas tad balenaiva jévä- yathä sneha-bhäjana-putro ’rthopärjanaà pitre lambanaà käryam. pitä gurur vä patir vä nirguëo ’pi dattvä prärthya ca svayaà bhuìkte. yadi svayam püjya eva. eteñäà balän mahadbhir jïänibhir vä saha änéya khädati, tataù kuputraù päpé syät. vivaditavyaà ke näma-janäù pituù kalaìke jévanti? If one’s initiating spiritual master and instructing Kindly understand this by an example: Just as spiritual master are of small spiritual potency, or in other one respects one’s father as a guru, the father’s words, if they do not possess a special power to give older and younger brothers are also similarly re- spiritual instructions on devotional service, then one may spected, but, nonetheless, the father is worthy of listen from the mouth of other great advanced vaiñëa- the most respect. Notwithstanding the above, if the vas and understand the special instructions. However, father’s guru, even if he is family related, comes, thereafter the disciple must go to his spiritual master for one should double the respect, as he is the spiritual his confirmation of those instructions. A faithful son goes father of the father, or the guru of the guru. He is out to earn money, then brings the wealth gained to his offered twice the püjä or respect. This behavior is father, then later asks for some allowance from the father, recognized as appropriate by all authorities. Just and whatever he receives from the father he is entitled to like in day to day life, even though the brothers spend for his own enjoyment. If a son earns money but of the father may openly criticize him, one still does not give it to the father and instead directly enjoys takes shelter of one’s father. Similarly, one remains the wealth, he is considered to be a fallen son and a sinful under the shelter of one’s own spiritual master, person. Similarly, a disciple may hear some instructions even if the spiritual master is criticized by his el- from another advanced vaiñëava, but after gaining that der or younger godbrothers. Just as one depends good instruction he must bring it and present it to his upon one’s father for one’s livelihood, one must own spiritual master. After presenting it, he should depend upon the strength of the spiritual master hear the same teachings from his spiritual master with for advancing in devotional service. If a father appropriate instructions. A disciple who listens to the or spiritual master or husband is not possessed words of other vaiñëavas, even if their instructions are of outstanding qualities, still he is always wor- proper and true, but does not reconfirm those teach- shipable. Taking shelter of the above-mentioned ings with his own spiritual master and instead directly, persons, one may even disagree with those senior personally accepts those instructions, is considered a to oneself. In this world, what kind of person is bad disciple and a sinner. In any case, one should not there who can remain alive at the expense of his disobey the order of the spiritual master. father’s or guru’s defamation or disgrace? tasmät sarvatra vaiñëavänäà guroù samädhikärä baläbalaà khalu-jévanaà sarve tad anumatam püjä käryä. tathäpi käya-mano-väkyair guror eva eva guru-mukhäd vä sva-buddhyä vä vyavaharan- sevanaà kuryät. kärya-käle parair guror ava- téti kramaù, ätmänaà tad-däsye tadä gaëayanti. heläyäà guror eva gurus tat-pakña eva grähyaù. eña eva paro dharmaù.

  IssueTop left Two 4 Hundred Thirty-six, Page — 4 Top right 4 é[q k* Z

Great Misfortune Ramachandra Das hä hä mora ki chära adåñöa yabe gaura prakaöila, ämära janama naila teìi muïi adhama papiñöha (Refrain) Alas! What has fate ordained for me? It brought me something useless, like a pile of ashes! When Lord Gaura manifested his pastimes, I was not born. There-

fore, I am the lowest and most sinful. Unknown artist nä herinu gauracanda, nä herinu nityänanda Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu nä herinu advaita gosäïé öhäkura çré-sarakära, nä herinu pada täìra lotus feet of Narahari Sarkar Thakur! I could not nä herinu çréväsa gadäi see Shrivas and Gadadhar Pandit! I could not see Lord Gaurachandra! I could not see ki mora karmera lekhä, se saba nahila dekhä Nityananda and Adwaita Gosai! I could not see the ekä ämi kena janaminu saba avatära sära, çré-gauräìga avatära  nä dekhinu kena nä marinu Due to my past , fate has ordained that I Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu would not see any of them. Why was I born alone A free bi-monthly service provided by: like this, away from them? I did not see Lord Gau- Gopal Jiu Publications ranga, the essence of all incarnations. Not having c/o Sri Krishna Mandir seen them, why have I not died? National Highway No. 5, IRC Village prabhura priya sva-gaëa, öhäkura vaàçé-vadana Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 751015 suta-suta hao muïi tära Phone: (0674) 2553250, 2557026 ahe gaura nityänanda, tabe kena mati manda Email: [email protected] rämacandra ati duräcära Website: www.gopaljiu.org I am the grandson of Vamshivadan Thakur, who Subscriptions: [email protected] was a dear associate of the Lord. O Lord Gaura- Nityananda! Why was the misbehaved fool Ram- Gopal Jiu Publications is a branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-: His achandra Das not born then? · Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bibliography Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Grace A. — Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas. Collected and translated by Sri C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada © Kusakratha Das. Unpublished. International. All other materials, unless specified, © ISKCON — Gaura-pada-taraìginé, edited by Jagadbandhu Bhadra. Sri Bhubaneswar/Gopal Jiu Publications. All rights reserved. Blanket Press. Calcutta. 1931. Bengali. Page 95. permission is given to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form provided no changes are made to the contents.