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!

--- Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Only a sadhu can recognize a sadhu. A non-sadhu cannot recognize a sadhu. For
example, in the same manner, an illiterate person cannot understand a learned
person because he does not have the capacity to understand. Only a learned
person can offer his respects to another learned person. A sadhu can recognize
other sadhus.  Non-sadhu cannot. For example, Sukadev Gosvami, the son of
Vedavyasa Muni, was a great saint. He was a brahma-jnani even when he was in his
mother's womb. After his birth he left immediately for the forest.  His father
was crying, "Oh son, oh son!" He was a great jnani, a great yogi and a
suddha-bhakta. The suddha-bhaktas, yogis and jnanis all used to give respect to
Sukdev Gosvami. When Sukadev Gosvami was sixteen years of age, he walked through
different villages naked, because he had no connection with this world
(brahma-jnani). The villagers thought that he was a crazy person, a lunatic.
They would throw dirt at him and spit on him. As he had no connection with this
world, he would not say anything. These villagers could not understand him. He
set his holy footprints at Sukartala by the bank of the Ganges and Pariksit
Maharaja came to see him after having been cursed by a brahmana. Pariksit
Maharaja was destined to die from snakebite after seven days. Renouncing his
home and kingdom, Pariksit came to Sukartäla by the side of the Ganges River. I
had the opportunity to go there two or three times with our Guru Maharaja. It is
still now a calm and serene place. When Sukadeva Gosvami set his holy footprints
there, all the rsis came to see him. Narada Muni, Parasurama and many other
great saints were there. They all stood up with great reverence and offered
their obeisances to Sukadeva Gosvami because they could understand his
qualification. As Sukadeva Gosvami started speaking Srimad-Bhagavatam, they were
astounded that this boy had so much learning. You cannot understand a learned
person by observing his outward appearance. But when you hear him, you can
understand that he is very learned. By hearing you can understand, not by seeing
with your eyes.

--- 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!

"sravanam kirtanam dhyanam." Dhyanam means to engage your mind in meditation for
thinking about and remembering the glories of the name, form, attributes and
pastimes of Sri Krishna.  So now you have engaged your ears (sravanam), you have
engaged your tongue (kirtanam) and you have engaged your mind (dhyanam). All the
sense organs should be engaged in the service of Sri Krishna. He is the only
master of all the senses.  So He is called Hrshikesha. Hrishik means sense
organs and isa means the enjoyer of those sense organs. If there should be any
sense organ not engaged in His service, then the world might enter through that
loophole. You should prevent worldly views from entering into the heart to spoil
one's consciousness of Sri Krishna.

I am trying to practice this by praying for the grace of Sri Krishna and you are
all helping me in this matter. You are my best friends, my spiritual friends.

--- 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!

It is the standing order of my Most Revered Divine Master, Gurudeva—Spiritual
Guide—that "Wherever you go, you should sing, you should chant, you should
speak, you should repeat whatever you have heard from the Lotus Lips of your
Most Beloved Revered Gurudeva, other revered Vaisnavas and from the authentic
scriptures, especially Srimad-Bhagavatam, the quintessence of all scriptures.
You must speak about it. If you repeat whatever you have heard from the lotus
lips of the bona fide guru and from bona fide pure devotees, then your mind will
be purified and you will obtain one-pointed devotion to your object of worship,
Supreme Lord Sri Krishna."  This is the standing order of my Most Revered
Gurudeva.  Therefore, wherever I go I try to speak whatever I have remembered
for my own spiritual benefit.  If I cannot make progress myself, if I do not get
eternal benefit myself, I cannot do good for others.  So, I am grateful to the
devotees here who have organized this meeting as they are giving me the
opportunity to carry out the orders of my Divine Master.  I am grateful to them
and to all the devotees here.

--- Opening words from a lecture by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakati Ballabh
Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

It is emphatically stated in Brihad Naradiya Puran thrice— there is certainly no
other way, certainly no other way, certainly no other way except only `Harinam'
in Kaliyuga.

Nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala-dyuti-nirajita-pada-pankajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanamparitas tvam hari-nama samsrayami
— 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 worshipping 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!

It has been emphatically stated in the authentic scriptures of India, the world
situation will have gradual deterioration from piety— righteousness in the four
ages— Satya (Golden age), Treta (Silver age), Dvapara (Brazen age) and Kali
(Iron age). Satya yuga is adorned with four virtues— penance, sanctity,
compassion and truth; Treta yuga is adorned predominantly with sanctity,
compassion and truth; Dvapara yuga is adorned with compassion and truth;
Kaliyuga is predominantly devoid of three virtues— only truth exists
insignificantly. Due to deteriorated state in Kaliyuga, Vedic instructions have
lost their adoration and respect. So, ordinary people have got tendency to
debate and altercate. According to the eligibility of the people in the four
ages, their process of worship has become different— in Satya yuga, mode of
worship was `meditation', in Treta yuga mode of worship was oblation, in Dvapara
yuga it was `Sree vigraha Archan' (worship of Deities) and in Kaliyuga— `Harinam
Sankirtan'.

Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
—Brhad Naradiya Purana

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

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-Samkirtan 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!

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!

Sri Krishna has emphatically said in the Gita— `A sincere soul will never be
deceived'. God is residing in our hearts, seeing everything. Nobody can do
anything without His knowledge. We are reaping the fruits of our own actions.
Nobody is to be blamed for our difficulties which are created by us by our own
misdeeds. A sincere votary who wants eternal welfare, should always see his own
defects and good qualities in others. We can rectify ourselves if we see our own
defects. It is due to our own actions that we have got congenial and uncongenial
environments. In this age, votaries are not capable of doing meditation,
oblation and worship of Deities correctly. Chanting of the Holy Name is the only
remedy of our disease of birth and death in this Kaliyuga.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

The root cause of our being imprisoned in the prison-house of worldly bondage is
our aversion to Supreme Lord. After forgetting Sri Krishna— Supreme Lord, and
being enveloped by the illusory energy, we passed through eight million births
as aquatic animals, trees, worms, birds and beasts and after that we got this
precious human birth. God has bestowed discriminating power to human beings
between eternal and non-eternal, so that they are capable of accepting Eternal
Truth by giving up non-eternal things. This human birth is not meant for eating,
sleeping, defending and mating like beasts and birds. Human beings can worship
Krishna (God). But any moment we may lose this chance.

We have imbibed bad and good thoughts in our minds by passing through so many
births. So it will take time to remove the bad thoughts and enhance devotional
eternal good thoughts. Supreme Lord Sri Krishna has advised in the Gita that
through `Abhyasa yoga'— spiritual practice of subduing the evil thoughts and
enhancing good eternal thoughts— by sincerely practising, gradually we will be
able to get stable state of mind.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Prominent saints of India say, by association of bona fide sadhus for 15 minutes
or even for a moment, millions of offences will be removed or that it will be
like a boat to cross over the ocean of birth-death and threefold afflictions.
One can get the association of a sadhu by one's previous accumulated impressions
of eternal good deeds. So it is undoubtedly true that the person who gets
company of sadhus is most fortunate. God is residing in the heart of every
individual spirit soul. If anybody mentally submits his/her difficulty, He will
hear and can help in that regard. God is Omniscient and Omnipotent. If we have
such belief, then everything will be solved. God graces through Shuddha Bhakta
and Sadguru. As Supreme Lord is everywhere, His Absolute Counterpart Sadguru
(Bona fide Guru) is also everywhere.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

As long as we shall remain in this world, we should be satisfied by getting
minimum material possessions. Atma requires Atma for it's sustenance, not
Anatma. Anatma is foreign to it. If one gets the property of one world, he will
have the desire to get another. Material world is actually devoid of actual
bliss. The material world is the shadow of Supreme Lord— who is All-Existence,
All-Knowledge and All-Bliss. Material world is the outcome of Maya which means —
`not that'. Shadow of a tree has got no actual existence.

tasmad idam jagad asesam asat-svarupam
svapnabham asta-dhisanam puru-duhkha-duhkham
tvayy eva nitya-sukha-bodha-tanav anante
mayata udyad api yat sad ivavabhati
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.22

This entire universe is non-eternal, so it is dream-like (illusory), transitory
(not permanent), devoid of knowledge, inert and extremely painful. But O Lord
Krishna! You are All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss and therefore
Infinite. Entire universe has been created and destroyed by your inconceivable
power, yet it appears to be truth actually existing.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

The root cause is false ego and false interests. Material world is finite, if
anybody gets some property, others are deprived of it. When human beings are
taught that they are physical bodies, all try to get requirements of the body
and there is competition in it. Actually real self is neither physical body nor
material body. Being enveloped by material energy they wrongly misconceive. So
Indian Rishis first tried for material property and afterwards they found it
will lead to extreme suffering. Actually requirement is Complete Bliss, Who is
God— Purna-sukh— Absolute Bliss or Infinite Bliss. Infinite Sachchidananda is
Infinite Bliss. If the attention of human beings is diverted towards Infinite
bliss and if anybody gets Absolute Bliss, others will not be deprived of it.
According to differential calculus mathematics— Infinite minus Infinite is
Infinite. Infinite jivas can get Infinite bliss. There is no possibility of
clashing. When persons do not find any interest for material acquisitions, they
become indifferent to it and clashing with others for such things cannot
originate.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Vaishnav is Paramhansa. As swan can extract milk from mixture of water and milk,
Vaishnavas can see good qualities in human beings. Human beings have both good
and bad qualities in them. When good qualities predominate he is called good and
when bad qualities predominate he is called bad person. Emancipated Realized
souls have only good qualities. They are rarest in this world. Vaishnava has got
the capacity to see good qualities in all human beings. They have got no
propensity to see bad qualities. They see bad qualities in themselves. When a
votary sees his own bad qualities, he can rectify himself. Vaishnav has got no
vanity or pride. They give respect to all but do not aspire for getting respect
from others.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sadhus have got no personal grudge to anybody in this world, but for the eternal
benefit of all, they refute the anti-devotional contentions only to save the
sincere souls from being misled. If we attack those proponents with hostile
mentality, those bad qualities of the pseudo sects will revert to us and we will
have a spiritual fall. Even if persons of those protagonists come to the sadhus,
they pay respect to them and serve them with prasad because they have got no
personal grudge. If they sincerely want to hear pure devotional conclusive
thoughts, sadhus speak to them mildly, establish devotional thoughts and showing
defects of anti-devotional thoughts. But they remain silent when they find the
person has come not to hear sincerely, but to show pedantic fits. Shuddha
Bhaktas do not like idle talks. They have no desire to speak unnecessarily
because they want to engage themselves fully for the service of God and His
devotees. They know any moment they may leave this most perishable world. They
are completely disinterested in non-eternal worldly affairs. Real aspirants
utilize their time for their actual benefit, they find no time to find faults
and criticize others.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

As Supreme Lord is Absolute, Infinite, He is Asamordha— there is no equal to Him
and no more than Him. Nothing, even a dust particle cannot be outside Infinite
and Absolute. If there be anything outside Absolute, then Absolute will lose His
position. As there is no equal to Him and no more than Him, without His will
nobody can realize Him.  There cannot be many paths to get the Absolute. He is
One, so realization of Him is also one— to submit to His will. Service means to
act according to the will of the served. This is called `Bhakti'. Bhakti is the
only way to attain God. The aspirant who has accepted the path of Bhakti is
called `Bhakta'. Karmi, Jnani or Yogi cannot get Bhagavan because their
objective is not Bhagavan. Karmis want non-eternal benefits in this world and in
the higher worlds. Jnanis want emancipation— merging into Formless Impersonal
Brahma. Ultimate goal of Yogis is to attain 18 kinds of Yogasiddhis or Kaivalya
(merging into Paramatma). Without the grace of Bhakta nobody can get Bhakti.
`Bhaktistu bhagvad bhakta sangena parijayate'— Only by the association of a
shuddha Bhakta you can get Bhakti. Shuddha Bhakta or Krishna Bhakta is very
scarce— `koti-mukta-madhye `durlabha' eka krishna-bhakta'— Amongst millions of
emancipated souls, it is very hard to get one shuddha bhakta. Ignoring Bhakta,
no aspirant can get contact with Bhagavan.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj had been to the laboratory of the
great world famous Noble Prize winner Indian scientist Dr. C. V. Raman to invite
him to preside over a function on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami at Sri
Gaudiya Math, Bagh Bazar, Calcutta. Dr. C. V. Raman refused to accept the
invitation on the ground that Krishna was fictitious and He had got no desire to
spoil his valuable time for such function. Maharaj again requested him to
participate in the function because some of his students were participating in
that function and they wanted his presence there. Dr. Raman said if Maharaj
could show Krishna to him, he would go to attend the function, otherwise not,
that which could not be comprehended by observation and experiment, he had got
no aptitude to spare his time for that. Northern portion of that laboratory was
totally closed by wall. The whole North-Calcutta was behind that wall. Maharaj
asked him, "I am unable to see anything beyond this wall. If I say `there is
nothing outside this wall', will it be correct?" Dr. Raman said, "I can see
through my instruments." Maharaj asked him, "There is a limit to your
instruments. You can see only as far as your instruments allow you to see." Dr.
Raman said, "I will not give my attention to anything that is not within my
sense-experience. Can you show me your God?" Maharaj then said, "If your
students say to you, they will study your scientific findings only if you make
them realized first, then what would you say?" Dr. Raman said, "No, they are to
take my process through which I have realized the truth." Maharaj said, "If this
is true for you and your sci¬entific knowledge, can the seers of ancient India
not say exactly the same thing? Follow their process and see whether you
experience God's existence or not."

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

In this modern age of materialism people mostly disbelieve the existence of God,
`Ishwar' on the ground— that which cannot be comprehended by the gross and
subtle senses is unreal and fictitious. In reply to this question of the
disbelievers of God, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita
Madhav Goswami Maharaj in one of His branch Math at Krishnagar, Dt. Nadia (West
Bengal), impressively made him understand by his own words. That student when
asked why he took admission at Krishnagar College for getting higher education,
he could have got it in his own house. The student replied, my revered father
admitted me in the Krishnagar College for higher education because the
professors of that college were very learned. Maharaj immediately asked that
student, "You have submitted to the professors for getting higher education,
that means that you are accepting a person superior to you in education. What is
the meaning of `Ishwar'? `Ishwar' or God means One who has got dominating power
and has got wealth. We are accepting in every sphere higher qualified persons to
be enriched by them, as for example, a person who wants proficiency in
wrestling, submits to a wrestler; one who wants to get money, submits to a rich
person. When you are accepting small Gods in every sphere, why you should
hesitate to submit to the Almighty, Who can protect us and maintain us in all
circumstances. If we ignore fire, fire will not lose anything, we shall be
deprived of the utility of fire. Supreme Lord is Absolute, Infinite and Complete
Reality. If we do not accept Him, He will lose nothing but we shall be deprived
of being protected and maintained by Him. `Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat
purnamudacyate purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate' (Ishopanishad)—If you
subtract Purna from Purna the remainder will be Purna, it will not be zero. As
per Higher Differential Calculus Mathematics, Infinite minus Infinite is also
Infinite.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

What is the interpretation of the word `Bhagawan' (God)? We find words in the
Gita— `Bhagavan uvaca' (Supreme Lord said). The Gita indicates that Supreme Lord
is speaking. Sri Krishna is referred to as Bhagavan in the Gita. The inner
significance of the word Bhagavan— "Bhaga means opulences, and van means one who
possesses. We have some conception of God, but in the Vedic literature there are
definite descriptions and definitions of what is meant by God, and what is meant
is described in one word—Bhagavan. Bhagavan possesses all opulences, the
totality of knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame and renunciation. When we
find someone who possesses these opulences in full, we are to know that he is
God. There are many rich, wise, famous, beautiful and powerful men, but no one
man can claim to possess all of these opulences. Only Krishna claims to possess
them in totality. Another interpretation of Bhagavan is `Bhaga' signifies
`shakti' (potency). Interpretation of Bhagavan is `Sarvashaktiman'— One who
possesses infinite opulences.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Actual Harikatha— transcendental spiritual words, descends to a completely
surrendered soul through preceptorial channel. Material words, songs can become
stale, but Harikatha can never become stale. Sree Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
heard entire holy biographies of Dhruva and Prahlad from Sreemat Gadadhar Pandit
Goswami at Purushottam Dham (Puri) hundred times, yet He expressed His desire to
hear about holy biographies again and again. As Supreme Lord is All-Existence,
All-Knowledge and All-Bliss— Transcendental Absolute Sweet Entity, the glories
of Supreme Lord can be tasted every time afresh and sweet, of course by
deserving pure devotees. Glories of Supreme Lord Who is All-Existence,
All-Knowledge and All-Bliss and His pastimes and personal associates can never
become dry. Gopis, foremost personal associates of Sree Krishna are continuously
chanting the glories of Sree Krishna, but those chantings and utterances of
words give them taste afresh. They are even drowned in the ocean of more and
more transcendental bliss which is beyond comprehension of the conditioned souls
of the world. Our requirement is incessant happiness and that is positively
fulfilled by the above method of devotional practice, what further do we want?
In this context, it is incumbent upon sincere seekers after Truth to go through
the wonderful biography of Sree Krishna Dvaipayan Vedavyas Muni to have a
gradual systematic approach towards Absolute Bliss. Sree Vedavyas Muni is
universally regarded as a great preceptor (Guru) of all sects of people in India
as well as in foreign countries. `Vedavyas' means one who has divided the Vedas
into four categories— Rik, Sam, Yajuh and Atharva. He has written `Vedanta' the
best scriptural evidence of the jnanis, Mahabharat which includes the Gita—
adorned by all in the globe and 18 Puranas.

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

Sree Sree Guru  Gaurangau Jayatah!

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrskena hrskesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate
—Narad Panchratra – Bhakti Rasamritasindhu

Supreme Lord Sree Krishna who is adorned with transcendental sweet sense-organs,
can be served by a pure devotee who has got such corresponding transcendental
sense-organs. This relation between object of worship and worshipper is
designated as `Bhakti' (pure devotion). As per evidence of Sree Chaitanya
Charitamrita, Madhyalila, chapter 19, verse 48, amongst 10 million (one crore)
`Jnanis', who are eager to get Brahmananda, only one can attain their objective—
`salvation'. Amongst 10 million such liberated individuals one can become a
Krishna bhakta. Krishna bhakti is so scarce. It is to be carefully noted, that
in the above verse stress has been given to give up false relations with this
non-eternal material ominous world by which we have become inauspicious and
evil-minded. On the other hand we are to turn our face towards Supreme Lord Who
is All-Good. When we can become of Him, we shall be sanctified. After being
sanctified we shall be worthy and eligible to serve Krishna. Association of bona
fide pure devotees is essential to realize our eternal relation with Supreme
Lord Sree Krishna. Actual `saranagati' (submission to Lord) can never be
manifested without association of pure devotees. By the process of ascension
(Arohavad) with vanity and challenging mood nobody can enter into that
Transcendental Blissful Realm. It is extremely difficult, but again it is very
easy. King Khattanga could attain highest objective— transcendental divine love
in a moment when he took absolute shelter to Supreme Lord.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Srnvata sraddhaya nitya, grnatas ca sva-cestitam
kalena natidirghena, bhagavan visate hrdi
Sreemat Bhagavatam (2.8.4)

Sree Hari will enter very soon into the hearts of devotees who speak and hear
about the Name, Form, Attributes and Pastimes of Sree Hari regularly with firm
faith. Sree Visvanath Chakravaty in his annotation has apprised devotional form
`smaran'— remembrance is subservient to devotional forms `sravan— listening and
`kirtan'— singing i.e. hearing and singing devotional songs or narrating of
glories of Supreme Lord. Sreela Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has
given his remark here— there is no need of artificially remembering the pastimes
of Sree Krishna for the devotees who perform the devotional forms of `sravan'
and `kirtan', with submission to Sree Krishna and with the purpose of
propitiating Him.

Sree Prahlad Maharaj in Sreemat Bhagavatam has said categorically that after
complete dedication to Vishnu (Supreme Lord) and directly for His satisfaction
when the votary will perform nine forms of devotion including `sravan' and
`kirtan'— this will be the proof of his best and actual study of scriptures as
well as success in devotion.

--- His Divine Grace Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Previously in ancient times, Varnashram Dharma was prescribed according to
quality and action— four Vranas and four Ashrams were introduced. Four Vranas—
Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra. Four Ashrams— Brahmachari, Grihastha,
Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.

Incompetent persons, finding difficulty after marriage to lead household life
and to maintain family members, give up family life. By that they commit sin.
Acceptance of Sannyasa for them is prohibited. There may be some exceptional
cases— by providence, some fortunate persons may come in contact with bona fide
sadhus and get chance of getting the temperament of worshipping God and leading
restricted lives.

In Srimad Bhagavat, third canto, Kapil Bhagavan in His instruction to mother
Devahuti said about the original and concomitant qualities of a bona fide pure
devotee— sadhu. He mentioned in His instruction, one of the original
qualifications of sadhu should be— `Mat-krte tyakta-karmanas
tyakta-svajana-bandhavah'— abandoning of Varnashram dharma and relinquishing of
bodily relations and friends are allowed if it is for the propitiation of
Supreme Lord. In case there is any other ulterior motive, to fulfil material
desires, then abandoning of Varnashram duties and relations will be considered
as sinful act.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us in Shikshashtaka, 4th verse, `Na dhanam
na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye, mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi'. What are we to desire from God? Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu is teaching us. If there be any worldly motive in performing bhajan,
we will get that, we will be deprived from getting eternal welfare. We should
not have any ulterior desire in our mind while performing bhajan. Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu has taught us in the above verse, we should not want wealth,
manpower, worldly learning or even emancipation. We should only pray to Supreme
Lord Sree Krishna to bestow us one-pointed exclusive devotion to Him. The first
attainment of performing Harinam Sankirtan is purification of mind. We are not
to perform yogic meditation for cleansing our minds, but Nam Sankirtan should be
done in the company of bona fide sadhus — Shudha Bhaktas. Second attainment of
performing Harinam Sankirtan is the extinguishment of forest fire of cycles of
births and deaths and threefold afflictions. The third attainment is eternal
welfare, i.e., appearance of Supreme Lord, Who is All-good. Harinam is the life
of Spiritual learning — Paravidya vadhu. There are two kinds of learnings, one
is material learning and another is spiritual learning — realisation of relation
with Supreme Lord, as eternally connected to Him as His servant. After that,
with that relation, when one chants the Name, he will be immersed in the ocean
of bliss and then, at every step he will have the taste of transcendental
embrosia and lastly, there will be complete purification of the body mind and
soul. These are the seven principal attainments of chanting Harinam.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Generally, when we write letters, we write on the top, `All Glory to Sree Guru
and Gauranga', to pray for the grace of Sree Guru and Gauranga. But Sreemad
Bhakti Siddantha Saraswati Goswami Thakur, in his commentary of the first verse
of Shikshashtaka, without writing `All Glory to Sree Guru and Gauranga',
commenced his writing on the top — `Sree Krishna Kirtanaya Namah'— All Glory to
Sree Krishna sankirtankari Gurudeva— invoking the grace of Gurudeva, Who is
competent to sing the glories of Sree Krishna, All Glory to Sree Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu— Who has appeared as Sankirtan Vigraha (the Holy embodiment of Sree
Krishna sankirtan).
	 We generally bow down to a person. How Sreela Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati
Goswami Thakur is bowing down to Krishna Kirtan? Because according to him,
`Krishna Kirtan' and `Krishna' are identical.  You are to understand the
difference between material sound and Transcendental spiritual sound. In
material sound, the sound word is different from the thing indicated by it. But
Transcendental sound is non-different from the thing indicated by it. `Water'
sound is different from the `Water' thing, but the Name of Krishna and Supreme
Lord Sree Krishna are non-different. There is no material barrier between Name
God and Named God. `Nama cintanami krishna caitanya-rasa-vigrahah'— Padma
Purana. The Holy Name is Cintamani, which signifies Name can fulfil all desires,
but we should not have mundane desires while doing it.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in the first verse of Shikshashtaka, has glorified
the chanting of the Holy Name `Sree Krishna'. `Sree' means beauty. What is
beauty of Krishna? Beauty is the potency attribute of Krishna. The attribute of
a thing is it's beauty. That complete potency of Krishna in concrete form is
called `Aradhika' or briefly, `Radhika'. Sree Krishna is the predominating
aspect of the moiety. As such Sree Krishna means Radha-Krishna. You are to chant
the Holy Name Radha-Krishna. Knowing the significance of Mahamantra, by
chanting— `Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare
Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare', you can get sevenfold principal attainments— all
attainments. First attainment is, "Ceto Dharpana Märjanam"— cleansing of the
mind which is compared with mirror. Sankirtan means to chant correctly and
completely. There are three meanings of Sankirtan — (1) to chant Holy Name
without tenfold offences (2) to chant completely—Name, Form, Attributes,
Associates and Pastimes (3) to chant loudly and collectively the Holy Name in
the association of Shudha Bhaktas.

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

Sree Sree Guru Gauangau Jayatah!

Narada Goswami has been uttering same Krishna-Nam from time immemorial. But
still, he cannot completely taste Krishna-Nam. While speaking of the glories of
Krishna-kirtan and utterance of the Names of Sree Sree Radha-Krishna, Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu has said in Shikshashtakam, `prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam." At every
step in the utterance of the Name, complete transcendental ambrosia is tasted.
It can never become stale. As God is Transcendental, worshipper of God is also
transcendental. As God is infinite, worshipper of God — Vaishnava, is also
infinite and Their qualities are also infinite. If anybody says he has finished
narrating the qualities, those qualities will become stale. Then he has not
understood anything. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard about the lives of Dhruva and
Prahlada from Gadadhar Pandit Goswami repeatedly for one hundred times. But we
have not heard even once, the full biographies of Dhruva and Prahlad, we say
that we have already heard, please tell us something new. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
after hearing one hundred times wants to hear again from Gadadhar Pandit
Goswami. If after hearing the glories of Lord and His associates, we have the
desire to hear again, then we have entered into the devotional spiritual realm.
Otherwise, you are outside the devotional spiritual realm and have learned
nothing about spiritual life. If you want to perform Bhajan, you are to
understand this — difference between Transcendental sound and material sound.

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