Dandavat Pranams;

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to Gurudeva!

Bhaktya sanjatya bhaktya
Madhurya-Kadambini ch. 1 SB(11.3.31)
Bhakti arises from bhakti(not from any other cause). From the heart of a pure devotee, A LIVING SAD-GURU, it is inspired into the heart of a surrendered sadhaka.

This is the message coming from Gurudeva. When we can not come to this position of accepting a pure devotee's help then we have severed our relationship to our own guru.

"Bhakti reposes in the heart of the maha-bhagavata pure devotee and uses him as a vehicle for further movement. When a jiva becomes free from envy and inclined to devotional service, the bhakti potency(suddha-sattva) is transferred from the pure devotee's heart into that jiva's heart whereupon it takes shelter of his soul and ultimately awards him perfection. THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY." (Harinama-cintamani ch. 4 footnote 1)

This is exactly what happened to me. Due to offenses and bad association I became influenced by the modes of tamas and rajas. My faith in Srila Prabhupada was very weak. Materialistic view points became my guide. Other weak devotees became my association. But to my good fortune (sukrti) I was able to get the association of a Mahabhagavata. Immediately I knew what was wrong. My association was very bad. So mysteriously Gurudeva injected me with a dose of real bhakti and my life was renewed. This is practical proof of the above quote. I also witnessed the same results in many of those bad associates(weak devotees). They too were inspired to get back on track. It is indeed a mysterious thing.

So for those devotees who find it difficult to take the association of Srila Narayan Maharaj, then I say to you...fear not! Nothing will be lost except your false ego. That is all that is preventing you from getting the mysterious injection of pure bhakti. We know he is a pure devotee yet we listen to people who have not heard properly. They look for some small blemish and cry out "Alas, now I have a reason to avoid Srila Narayan Maharaja". But then you have to suspend your intelligence and reject the ocean of knowledge that has poured forth from his nectarine lips. You have to turn your back on all the HariKatha. You have to throw out all the Vraja and Navadvipa Parikramas. You have to reject all the devotees who have come to love him. You have to neglect all the books he has written. You have to reject his endorsement by Srila Prabhupada. So many very valuable gifts you have to reject for a small blemish? It does not make any sense. Wake up dear friend. Take a peak...read a few lines...meditate on the message...you will see there is nothing to fear.

Gour Govinda das (ACBSP)