Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja - "So the object of our sadhana should be to attain rati"

My Appreciation of my Siksa and Sannyasa Guru... Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja!

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:30:36 -0400

Nitai Gauranga!

Swami BV Sajjan

My Appreciation of my Siksa and Sannyasa Guru... Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja!

All glories to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and his merciful benediction on all the living entities of this degraded Kali-yuga, who had the fortune of his association during his presence in this world. His benediction and mercy continues by his instructions in his books, recorded conversations, lecutures, letters, etc. By this he continues to be manifest and those who follow these teachings live with him.

Write to him to dissipate your doubts!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:20:48 -0500

Dear Maharajs, prabhus, didis,
please accept my obeisances.

I had heard that our Srila Prabhupada had said that we could approach two persons for knowledge: His Godbrother Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja, and Srila Narayana Maharaja of the Kesavaji Gaudiya matha in Mathura.

Sri Nagar Sankirtan in London

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:32:15 -0500

All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! Hare Krsna, by the divine instruction of our beloved Srila Gurudeva, Bhaktivedanta Narayan Gosvami Maharaj, devotees are performing Nagara Sankirtan around London on a weekly basis.

Last message of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada to His disciples

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:24:35 -0500

Last message of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada to His disciples before disappearance in Baghbazar Gaudiya Math, Calcutta – `With the sole purpose of worshipping Sree Hari we should pull on our life somehow in this most non-eternal world. We should not give up Hari-Bhajan inspite of hundreds of clamities, hundreds of obstacles, hundreds of reproaches and harassments. Don't be disheartened to serve Krishna without deceitfulness seeing majority of the worldly people are not accepting it. Don't give up your worship of Sree Krishna and your spiritual devotional wealth – listening and chanting Krishna Katha, under any circumstances. Always do Hari Kirtan with the two qualities of being humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than tree. We shall be able to realise Transcendental Delightfulness of service of Sree Krishna when we shall be entitled to do

Dear Vaishnavas , Srila Damodar maharaj and Srila Narayan maharaj

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:08:52 -0500

Dear Vaishnavas , Srila Damodar maharaj and
Srila Narayan maharaj
Dear devotees ,
Many , many thanks for all the mails you sent me for years now .
They are like fountains of clear water for us .

Today I am thinking about my beloved diksa-guru, His Divine Grace Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Svami Srila Prabhupada

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:49:18 -0500

I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord.
They are just like desire trees who can fulfil the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Organized Religion by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:45:52 -0500

Organized Religion

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

Sri Krishna manifests His eternal birth, the pure cognitive essence of the serving soul who is located above all mundane limitations. King Kamsa [the demon king who wanted to kill Lord Krishna] is the typical empiricist, ever on the lookout for the appearance of the truth for the purpose of suppressing Him before He has time to develop. This is no exaggeration of the real connotation of the consistent empiric position. The materialist has a natural repugnance for the transcendent. He is disposed to link that faith in the incomprehensible is the parent of dogmatism and hypocrisy in the guise of religion. He is also equally under the delusion that there is no real dividing line between the material and the spiritual. He is strengthened in his delusion by the interpretation of scriptures by persons who are like-minded with himself. This includes all the lexicographic interpreters.

I take siksa because Srila Prabhupada says I can't make advancement if I don't

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:08:16 -0500

Please accept my dandavat pranams
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga
All glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji

Dear Prabhus and Didis,

Srila Prabhupada says,

The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with sastric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the sastras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress.
Madhya Lila 22.71

"The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
Madhya Lila 22.83

NOI text 8 in which Srila Prabhupada calls the "essence of all advice" He says go to Vrindavan and find an eternal associate of Radha and Krsna and continue your spiritual development under their guidance. He did not not say go to ISKCON only, in an earlier purport He clearly speaks against institutional consciousness.

108 quotes about sadhu sanga

http://bvml.org/contemporary/108spq.htm

In the words of our dear guru maharaja's god-brother Srila Sridhara Maharaja

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:38:03 -0500

We are not concerned with a material connection. The mediator is not this flesh and body as we generally think. In studying the development of scientific thought, we may connect Newton to Einstein, leaving aside many unimportant scientists. We may trace the development of science from Galileo to Newton, and then to Einstein, neglecting the middle points. If their contributions are taken into account, then the whole thing is taken into account, and lesser scientists may be omitted. When a long distance is to be surveyed, the nearest posts may be neglected. Between one planet and another, the unit of measurement is the light year; distance is calculated in light years and not from mile to mile, or meter to meter. In the disciplic succession, only the great stalwarts in our line are considered important.

Re. the GBC's statement that Srila Narayana Maharaja doesn't stress preaching

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:25:15 -0500

First of all I offer my humble obeisances to Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada and our Guru varga. Next I offer my humble obeisances to all sincere devotees of Lord Chaitanya's mission in whatever sanga they may be in.
I am so grateful to Iskcon and all the disciples of Srila Prabhupada who struggled so hard to continue his mission around the world after he left. For a lonely soul who took birth among the mlecchas in Australia due to his offences in a previous birth, Iskcon was the only chance that existed to even glimpse Lord Chaitanya's mercy. Growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, what were the chances that I could come in contact with His mission? Against all the odds I met a book distributor in a small country town who flipped through the pages of a first canto Srimad Bhagavatam on the street as I looked on. I couldn't afford what the devotees was asking but I gave him all the money I had ($2). That little bit of sucriti saved me 6 months later when I was hit by a car and spent two weeks in a coma. It guided me to the Iskcon temple in Adelaide Sunday feasts years later when I'd dropped out of university and was pursuing a career as a filmmaker. In London, running out of money, it led me to the macrobiotic store where I saw the cards inviting people to free lunches at Soho St. temple. Then the kindness of Srila Prabhupada's disciples once I went there took over and I was on my way on a journey that took me all over the UK distributing books for five years, then to France, Germany, Italy, India trying to serve the sankirtana movement. On the way there were many disappointments, both in my 'gurus', both of whom ran away from the battlefield in shame, and myself as I stumbled many times on the path of bhakti. Then I met Srila Gurudeva who mercifully accepted me and helped me understand Srila Prabhupada and his mission more.

HE INSTRUCTED ME AND ALL OF THE DEVOTEES PRESENT IN MURWILLUMBAH TO DISTRIBUTE BOTH HIS AND SRILA PRABHUPADA'S BOOKS IN WHATEVER SITUATION WE MAY BE IN.

So I am humbly attempting to do that by going in to the local hospital with my harp, playing to patients in difficult situations, and giving books to those who are receptive. I am just a lowly peon in this endeavour but if it pleases him and our sampradaya even a little then my life is successful.

So I humbly submit to the GBC that Iskcon can be a wonderful thing when the people who make the decisions are sincere; that it has done and is doing very valuable work; and that Srila Narayana Maharaja is following Srila Prabhupada 100%. After all, Srila Prabhupada also stressed constant improvement in bhakti.

begging to remain dasanudas,

Stoka Krishna das

I often think of that special mercy of Srila Prabhupada upon us at those days

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:39:14 -0500

My name is Visnujana das. I joined ISKCON in Russia in 1992. Following
most of the other young devotees joining the movement at the time I
was privileged to also be fully and blissfully engaged in book
distribution and other preaching activities. In fact I often think of
that special mercy of Srila Prabhupada upon us at those days and I
think that was extremely important for us. Time went on, I received
initiation from Srila Indradyumna Swami Maharaja (ISKCON). I was
inspired by his sincere determination in following the desire of Srila
Prabhupada to give the chanting to everyone, and also I was inspired
by his vaisnava qualities. In fact when I first met Srila Narayana
Maharaja in 2005, when he was told I had been initiated by Indradyumna
Swami, he began to glorify him, especially pointing out his successful
efforts in preaching Harinam-sankirtana all over the world. But I'd
like to jump a couple of years back..
In around 2004 some dissatisfaction began to develop in my heart. I
was thinking: "I have chanted the same mantra, have read the same
books as many great Vaisnavas (think of our acariyas) did.. However,
They were immersed in bliss and I was still oppressed by material
desires." I appreciated I had, what I would call at the time, some
test in Krishna Consciousness; for sure I had a lot of gratitude for
Srila Prabhupada and I definitely considered myself to be very lucky
having been introduced to this movement. However, I also began to
realize that the actual Bhakti must have been much more than what I
could imagine. I thought to myself: "Bhakti Rasamrita-sindhu – the
ocean of nectar of Bhakti", 'the lotus feet', 'beyond liberation'.. I
read this phrases every day. Do I have an idea of what they really
mean? I understood that I had not. But that did not discourage me, as
I thought: "Well, at least now I know (have faith) that Bhakti is
something extraordinary, something very high and beautiful. I also
have a strong faith that our acariyas do have that (what they are
talking about) in full and that is what they are passing down to us
out of Their unlimited kindness. Now this is my responsibility to
receive it. I got to have that!" Then I began praying to our
Guru-parampara to help me in this, to give me some guidance. I
especially wanted to know who nowadays can give that very same 'real'
bhakti. It's not that I knew what 'pure bhakti' was. (I still don't).
Neither did I feel I had had some special qualification to even expect
to receive it. I have none. However, since the acariyas, the pure
Vaisnavas have made so much effort to reach out to us I felt this was
my right and well, duty to try my best to receive it. I also felt
attracted by this new concept and some faith was there too that I
could in fact receive that mercy. Anyway, I did the prayers for some
weeks and then it all so happened that Srila Narayana Maharaja's
followers were to have a festival in the area and Srila Narayana
Maharaja was to stay in a house right next to mine! : ) (in Ramadas
Prabhu's house, Efland, NC, 2004). Although Srila Gurudeva could not
have come that year because of some illness (that was devastating news
especially for me as I had been really excited I could meet him now
for the first time.), sure enough that was still a good start for me.
Well, that's how I took it then. Sripad Bhagavat Maharaj with a few
other devotees stayed in our house for those a few days, and I got my
first book by Gurudeva from him. That was Bhakti-Tattva-Viveka by
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. When I opened it up and started reading I
was amazed to see and feel how appealing it was! :) It immediately
reminded me 1990 when I got Bhagavat-Gita by Srila Prabhupada and 1998
when I got when I got to read 'Pariprashna' by Srila Gour-Govinda
Swami. – It had the same kind of effect on me. I am sure most of
devotees know what I am talking about. We've had this experience.
After this the story (which is quite amazing for me) continued, but I
guess I am taking too much time and space here. So, I will stop here

The Mercy Continues on:

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:13:02 -0500

The Mercy Continues on:

There will always be a pure devotee on the planet to guide the conditioned souls. My prayers were answered after the disappearance of my gurdeva A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, when I met Srila Narayana Maharaja. He has helped to water, and nurture my Bhakti Creeper, planted by Srila Prabhupada. May all who thirst for beauty and truth, pray for the association of pure devotees........... Seek and ye shall find............ I was fortunate to have my prayers answered. All glories to the saintly soul, the pure devotee Srila Narayana Maharaja. May he continue to inspire and help all those who desire pure bhakti.. your servant Pracetana dasi.

Siksa Guru

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:34:08 -0500

Dadavat Pranams;

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Srila Narayana Maharaja!

Siksa-guruke ta' jani krsnera svarupa
antaryami bhakta-srestha, ei dui rupa
CC Adi-lila 1.47

"One should know the siksa Guru to be Krishna's personality. In the form of the Supersoul (the Guru in the heart, caitya guru), Krishna gives encouragement and as the topmost devotee, He gives association and instructions (siksa)."

These are the words of shastra. In these words the role of Srila Narayana Maharja is revealed. For those who understand the words of shastra then the acceptance of Srila Narayana Maharaja is an easy transition. What is lacking for others is faith. Over the years the neophyte devotees have had their faith challenged by Maya in the form of fallen gurus, abused children, lost money/time, abandoned projects and a host of other events. These events forced some to seek the shelter of advanced vaishnavas. Others abandoned the process entirely or retreated into the false security of a religious institution. It is to these individuals that we must address our concerns.

I say to you do not despair. Do not lash out in anger or frustration. Rather look within and seek the guide in your own heart. There resides caitya guru. Supersoul and externally siksa guru. He must be of the topmost in order for the full benefit to manifest. Don't look for the obvious differences from your previous acharya. Look for the similarities. There you will find the oneness of purpose, the oneness of siddhanta. This is where your faith should reside. Do not be fooled by the brick and mortar. Do not be fooled by "regular" gurus. These can not take you to the transcendental realm. A hand must descend from that realm and reach down to you. That hand is the siksa guru who is completely liberated from the attraction of the material world. It is only he who has the power to remove all your anarthas. Don't throw away this chance because of social pressure, monetary considerations, or family obligations. Be brave and step into the light. No harm will come to you. You will not be cheated.

YS
Gour Govinda das ACBSP

" Unity in diversity "

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:40:10 -0500

"We have got experience that if we endeavor collectively, there is great possibility to spread the message of akara matha: the mission of Mahaprabhu, 'prithvi te ache', everywhere in the world. I have contributed to this end to the best of my ability." -- Srila Prabhupada

I appreciate very much Shrila Narayan M.and Iscon alike.
It is NOT my intent to instignate more argumentation, but just to get clearer on this subject:

Please can anysoul coment on the conclusive statement of GBC:
wich goes something like this:
WE can not allow Shrila Narayan M. to act in Iskcon
becouse He ...
... . stresses more work on yoursef, than trying to preach ACCORDING TO SHRILA PRABHUPAD... .

Sincerly yours , fallen servant.

A Very Special and Confidential Secret

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:09:49 -0500

I read an incredible pastime of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu today in Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur's book "Caitanya Bhagavat", which through it, he easily and unequivacably defines the extroadinary benefit obtained from serving a pure devotee of the Lord.

In Chapter Two of the second part (Madhya-Khanda), Srila Vrindavan Das describes how Sri Caitanya had, till then, kept His real identity as the Supreme Lord secret to all for many years (even Sri Adwaita His own expansion hadn't recognized Him), but now He had finally decided to reveal Himself to Sri Adwaita and others.

It was at that time He went to Srivasa Pandit's house in the mood of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to reveal Himself to Srivas. On the Lord's revealing Himself, Srivas Pandit offered Him many beautiful prayers, just as Lord Brahma had done in a different age.

After that, Lord Caitanya then said to Srivas "Bring all the family members of the house and let them see My transcendental form".

Srivas brought all his family members including his wife, brothers, other relatives, servants and maidservants, and they all offered worship at the Lord's lotus feet.

The Supreme Lord then blessed all present by placing His lotus feet on their heads saying "May your attachment and attraction for Me increase". He then manifested His opulent Vaikuntha form and all present went into an ecstatic trance upon seeing this sublime revelation.

Even the servants and maidservants of Srivas Thakur were now seeing that Divine form, that even the personified Vedas are always very eager to see.

This extroadinary pastime revealed a very special and confidential secret... the unlimited benefit obtained by becoming a servant of a pure devotee of the Lord. What's more it reveals the best process of attaining the Supreme Goal, and that is, through the service and ensuing mercy of a Vaisnava, one can receive the shelter of the most sought after lotus feet of Sri Krsna Himself!

If by learning this secret, one is fortunate enough to be able to muster the faith and intelligence to actually desire to become a servant of the pure devotee (and thus actuaaly endeavor in his own best interest), then it would behoove one to inquire the whereabouts of a pure devotee of the Lord through humble inquiry, and upon finding one, serve him with life and soul and finally reap the ultimate reward!!

It can also be concluded through this lila that if one has heard that someone MAY actually be a pure devotee of the Lord, one should take careful note, and IN THE LEAST, not even THINK in an anatogonistic manner towards him, lest he desires to invite his own peril through the wrath of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself!

On Srila Swami Prabhupada's death bed he called on Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja and asked him if he "would take care of his disciples, they are just like monkeys". One would do well on dwelling on the reason why he asked Srila Narayan Maharaja to take care of his disiples and no-one else, and again, what the benefit is of pleasing the pure devotee in all respects.

Jaya Sri Sri Guru Gauranga!