Volume I
Foreword
THIS VOLUME IS THE FIRST BOOK about the extraordinary character and sublime teachings of our most revered holy master, om visnupada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, affectionately known as our beloved Srila Gurudeva. It is Srila Gurudeva's extraordinary mercy that he has revealed a glimpse of the spiritual world and awakened within us a taste for the supremely sweet pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.
Sripada 'Vidyalankara’ Madhava Maharaja is not writing just another book about some charismatic individual who is accepted by the general public as a guru. Nowadays the name guru has become quite fashionable. In the modern world we have financial gurus, management gurus, fashion gurus and so on, and it seems that any common man can be accepted as guru as long as he shows some expertise in his field. The approach of many so-called gurus may be of great appeal to the masses by making them feel good about the prospects of their material aspirations and the anticipated temporary pleasures of the mind and senses. One may receive some temporary upliftment from these self-styled gurus, but in the end, their encouragement for us to continuously chase after material happiness produces only a mental image of a possible future, but no ultimate satisfaction. That is because the material enjoyment they offer always ends in misery. This material enjoyment is just like a big fire; no matter how beautiful it is to look at, if you touch it, it will inevitably burn you and you will suffer tremendously. Similarly, harmful activities will make us suffer in the material world. People who are overpowered by the illusory material maya of Krsna feel happiness and suffering for many births under the influence of that illusory energy. Their happiness and sufferings are all the work of maya, meaning 'forgetfulness of Krsna', There are many persons in this world who may appear or claim to be guru, but a bona fide guru follows Sri Brahma, the original guru and grandfather of the universe. Krsna consciousness was propounded by Sri Brahma aeons ago when the creation was still in its infancy. Only a bona fide guru representing his guru and the Lord can give one the essential help to attain real freedom.
Guru is a Sanskrit word and its original and intended meanings are explained in the Vedic literatures. Gu means 'ignorance' and ru means 'dispeller', so a real guru is someone who is in a disciplic succession of gurus that dispells our ignorance. Those in a material conception of life will teach others that they can and will become happy here, thus increasing their ignorance and boosting their false ego of bodily identification. A real guru, on the other hand, gives eternal results by initiating us on the path that activates and reveals our true spiritual identity. He mercifully gives instructions, convincing us of the many perfect philosophical conclusions of bhakti. Serving him and submissively hearing from him frees us from the ignorance that has been ingrained within our hearts since time without beginning. It gradually but firmly establishes within us a deep love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, the divine Youthful Couple and the soul's function fully awakens. This is what a guru should give - our pristine intrinsic nature, our eternal dharma. That's what our Srila Gurudeva, the deliverer of the fallen, is giving to us.
Our eternal natural function, or dharma, is bhakti or devotional service. As one cannot separate heat from fire, so similarly, the service nature of the living entities cannot be taken away from them. We have to serve someone or something. We serve either Krsna or maya. Unfortunately, during this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the insincerity and hypocrisy is so widespread that those who have a desire to follow religion are oftentimes misled; consequently they are disheartened to pursue religion with strong determination or conviction.
All religions propagated in the world are either steps leading to bhakti or else distortions of it. This being a fact, we should focus on our own cultivation of devotion and not worry or criticize what others are doing. We should be favourable towards the followers of other religions and have no animosity towards them. All of us advance according to the time that is ripe for us. Any religion should be respected according to its proportionate degree of purity.
In order to pursue our particular path with great devotion, we have to understand that there are mixed, polluted and imaginary concepts of bhakti that are falsely presented in the name of pure bhakti. There are different categories. One group may have a slight semblance of bhakti or a mixed devotion (mixed with fruitive action or speculative knowledge, etc.). These are gradations of bhakti but only unalloyed devotion (suddha-bhakti) can give life's ultimate goal - the nectar of pure love (prema). Only that suddha-bhakti can bestow the highest results. Yet, on the path of bhakti, many try to give the impression that they are practicing pure bhakti, though in actuality they practice only a reflection or a shadow of devotion. It is important to know that whoever you follow, you will only be able to attain what they have, not more than that. Whatever level of consciousness one's guru attains, the followers. can advance up to that level, not higher than that. That is why the gift of the higher part, the transcendental realm, can only be obtained by the exclusive mercy of Srila Rupa Gosvami, the acarya of ujjvala-rasa, and his intimate associates. The original form of Bhagavan descended in this age as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to deliver all the living entities. Srila Rupa Gosvami, who is priya- svarupa, the very embodiment of everything dear to Him, is His foremost disciple in establishing the deepest wishes of His heart. Those who completely come under the guidance and care of the genuine followers of Srila Rupa Gosvami will attain realization and advance through each successive stage of krsna-prema.
The realm of the Supreme Lord is naturally full of love and there is never any force. Here also, we are never forced to love, but this world is a place where the Supreme Lord examines us. Do we want only Him, or do we still want something of this world? The Lord will fulfill our desire, as much as we desire, not more than that. According to what we desire in life, we will get an appropriate guru or spiritual teacher. If we want transcendental vision, we can only get it by the special mercy of great devotees who see and perceive the Lord at all times and in all places. Only by their mercy will we excel in the examination, be able to recognize our true selves and begin to hanker for the only thing that will satisfy us - pure bhakti. One can only remember the Lord in all circumstances when the inclination to serve the Lord arises in one's heart by the sweet association and mercy of such a sadhu. Unless we have the opportunity to hear the pure nectar of their hari-katha, we will always go back and absorb ourselves in sense gratification, even if we are inclined towards religious life. It is only by their merciful glance and the sharp words emanating from their lotus mouths that the hidden fantasies in the mind for gross and subtle sense gratification are finally eradicated from the heart forever.
If someone possesses only pretentious devotion (chala-bhakti), that is what their followers will get from them. Some, even in the name of bhakti, instruct others against the principles of bhakti and lead them on a path that is totally opposed to it. Therefore our previous acaryas have clearly cautioned us to avoid mixed and polluted concepts of bhakti. Only then will our hearts be thoroughly cleansed, so that our activities can be most favourably executed for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna.
Everyone is controlled by the desire for sense enjoyment, even when it comes to modern day religion. Most of the general public become attracted to follow certain religious teachings to get material boons from God in the form of economic development (artha) and sense gratification (kama). They are misled to ask and search for material benedictions, rather than establishing their pure loving relationship with the Lord. Although their values are presented as the topmost and most relevant for God consciousness, they are in actuality a distortion of pure bhakti and the practitioner can only develop a little faith in God. Ultimately it is a deception and infinitely inferior to the flawless and completely pure suddha-bhakti. That is why we should always hear the perfect philosophical conclusions of bhakti (bhakti-siddhanta) from qualified persons. Unqualified persons with the four defects of human frailty- are unable to properly teach anything transcendental that is worth hearing. We need to seek help from those who are free from these very serious defects that prevent us from getting even a glimpse of transcendence. Methods of learning under the operation of the four-fold defects are useless in our progress toward the Absolute, for they can never free us from those defects.
Preface
FOLLOWING THE SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY of India, I first offer my prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating Guru- padapadma, nitya-lila-pravista om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja and I offer my prostrated obeisances at the lotus like feet of my instructing Guru, om visnupada parivrajakacarya astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.
It is on the order of my godbrothers, godsisters and other Vaisnavas, that I completed and submitted this doctorial thesis, 'The Supreme Treasure Srila Gurudeva', in 2009. I achieved this PhD degree from Florida Vedic College, United States, on 26th May, 2010.
On the inspiration and order of the Vaisnavas, I took this service as a challenge because it is a very hard task. I think that by the causeless mercy of Srila Gurudeva, our guru-parampara and all the Vaisnavas, I will be successful in this subject matter.
Since 1996, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja has been continuously traveling around the world. So far, he has travelled more than thirty-five times around the whole world. He is always giving discourses on bhakti, or selfless devotion to the Supreme Lord. He regularly had me give lectures on the subject of guru and the disciple in the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, and particularly on guru-seva. Wherever I travel with Srila Gurudeva, on his order, in my first class among the many classes that I give wherever we stay, I have tried my level best to discuss Sri guru, the relation between Sri guru and disciple, and how to perform guru-seva. In this way, I am bound to say something about both my diksa-guru and siksa-guru. I collected in note form what I have heard at different times from my siksa- guru, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, my diksa- guru, Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja, and param- puyjapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja, and also what I have heard from different Vaisnavas and then tried to make them into a book.
For the past thirty years, I have gathered different quotations and subject matter. When I first started this work, I requested Srila Gurudeva to check my work to see if these points were okay or not. At the time I started this book I was in Cebu in the Philippines. When I told Srila Gurudeva two or three of the points, he humbly said, "No, I should not listen."
I requested, "Why not?"
Srila Gurudeva replied, "It is not good for me to listen to my own glorification."
I said, "If you don't tell me if this is correct or not, then who will rectify me? Who will correct me?"
Gurudeva said, "No, I'm sorry, I cannot help you with this."
Two days later, I requested Srila Gurudeva, "If you think that to listen to your own glories is not good for you, whenever it is your vyasa-puja, different devotees are glorifying you. At that time, are you putting in earplugs, or are you listening to their offerings?"
The second argument I gave was as follows: "At the time of the vyasa- puja of our beloved Parama-gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, yourself, my Guru-padapadma, Srila Bhaktivedanta Varnana Gosvami Maharaja and param-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja, used to glorify our Param-gurudeva, At that time, did Param-gurudeva listen to his glories from all of you or not? At that time, did he put in earplugs or not?"
My third argument was, "When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada was present in this world, he had so many qualified disciples and at the time of vyasa-puja, they also glorified him. At that time, did he make any objection, or did he allow them to speak about him? If Prabhupada allowed his disciples to glorify him and if Parama-gurudeva allowed all of you to glorify him and at the time of your own vyasa-puja, you allow all disciples and devotees to glorify you, if I glorify you and request you to check if this point is okay or not, then what wrong am I doing?"
Srila Gurudeva became speechless and could not refute my arguments. After that, he listened to everything thoroughly and told that, "Yes, this is very nice. It will be very good." And then I got blessings from Srila Gurudeva to compile this doctoral thesis. A relevant selection of these points is presented in this work.
This treatise serves toward the fulfilment of a Ph.D. in Vaisnava Philosophy from Florida Yedic College. Since the GYP is exclusively for the publication of Srila Gurudeva's books, this book is not printed under the GYP logo. However, it is with much gratitude that I have completed this work using the valuable materials published by GYP, from which, I have extensively made excerpts and quotations in many important sections of the book.
I would like to thank the individuals who have encouraged and assisted me in one way or another. I pray to the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva (who has captured Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Divine Couple in his heart, and is serving Them continuously, twenty- four hours a day) that he blesses whoever has helped me in any way to bring forth this book, to progress rapidly in Krsna consciousness.
May Srila Gurudeva, who is the embodiment of the Supreme Lord's compassion, shower upon me abundant mercy by which I can attain ever-increasing qualification to serve his innermost desire. This is my humble prayer at his lotus feet, which can bestow prema.
If any devotee wants to reproduce or translate this work, or portions of the work, then they are advised to contact the author.
Source of Inspiration
The main source of inspiration in this book is paramaradhya Srila Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.
Many others have kindly encouraged and supported me such as:
B.Y. Tirtha Maharaja, Premananda dasa, B.Y. Parivrajaka Maharaja, B.Y. Padmanabha Maharaja, B.Y. Sajjana Maharaja, B.Y. Nemi Maharaja, B.Y. Srldhara Maharaja, B.Y. Tridandi Maharaja, B.Y. Damodara Maharaja, B.Y. Govinda Maharaja, B.Y. Harijana Maharaja, Brajanatha dasa, Madhava-priya dasa, Krsna-krpa dasa, Amala-krsna dasa, Vijaya-krsna dasa, Dvija-krsna dasa, Rarnacandra dasa, Rohininandana dasa, Sanjaya dasa (Sr.), Hare-krsna dasa, Balarama dasa, Sanjaya dasa (Jr.), Subala-sakha dasa, Syamarani dasi and Vrnda-devi dasi.
Advisory Board.
Brajanatha dasa, Punama dasi, Pankaja dasa and Acvutananda dasa
Recording
Madhuvrata dasa
Transcribing
Anantacarya dasa, Madhuvrata dasa, Gauranga dasa and Sanjaya dasa
Editorial Board
Rupa-raghunatha dasa, Madhuvrata dasa, Bhadra dssr, Vrajadevi dasi and Vinava-krsna dasa
Chief Editor - Rupa-Raghunatha dasa, under the direction of Sriman Brajanatha Prabhu
Diacritics and Proofreading
Gauranga dasa, Acyutananda dasa, Santi dasi, Anadi-krsna dasa, Gaura-raja dasa, Gauragopala dasa and Giridhari dasa.
layout & Design
Anupama dasa, Ananga-mohana dasa, Krsna-karunya dasa
legal Consultation and Copyright Permissions
Ann Mueting, Varnsivadana dasa and Mukunda dasa
Public Relations & Communication
Brajanatha dasa and Vmda-devi dast
Financial Board
Mukhara-devi dasi, Tamopaha dasa & Campakalata dasi, Vrajesa dasa & Krsna-bhamini dast, Narahari dasa & Bhavatarini dasi, Aristanasana dasa, Dr. Paramesvara dasa & Mala dasi, Taruna-krsna dasa & family, Nandana dasa & Savitri dasi, Sundarananda dasa & Gita dssr, Indira dasi, Nandana dasa, Krsna dasa, Dharmaraja dasa, Vinaya-krsna dasa, Hemant dasa, janardana dasa, Sarvamangala dasi, Lalita-prtva dasi, Yasoda dasi, Vrndavana dasa, Visvambhara dasa, Vrndavana-bihari dasa & Pramila dasi, Dhananjaya dasa, Mahamantra dasa, Yamuna-jivana dasa, jagamohini dasi, Yasomati dast, Pranavallabha dasa, Vinita dasi, Amala-krsna dasa, Ramalingam dasa, Rama dasa and Syama dasa.
Chief Of Financial Board - Mukhara-devi dasi (China)
Many others eagerly provided their assistance in various capacities. I cannot list everyone but I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of them, especially Acintya-gaura dasa, Jnana-sakti dasa, Rama dasa, Radha-priya dasi, Govinda dasa, Bhakta Svarupa dasa and Binaya Krsna dasa.
Apology
By the causeless mercy of Srila Gurudeva, guru-parampara and all Vaisnavas, I have tried my level best to present the readers the teachings and biography of Srila Gurudeva. First of all, I beg forgiveness for not putting all the events in regular historical sequence. I could have done so but this is to ensure that appropriate philosophical truths and incidents are presented timely to the readers. In this way, I have recorded many of these pastimes from memories that came first in my mind, inspired by the style of Pandita jagadananda who wrote the pastimes of the Lord in Prema-vivarta according to his loving remembrances and not according to the standard sequential order. This book is therefore by no means an attempt to narrate the pastimes of Srila Gurudeva in chronological sequence.
This biographical style may not appeal to every reader ..... not possible. Still, this book may be considered as a biography full of siddhanta, rather than an impartial study.
Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraja has written in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 2.2.85, "prabhuryei acarana, sei karivarnana, sarva-cittanari aradhite- Some may complain that I have been unduly harsh and perhaps others may object that I have been overly mild. However, I am only trying to describe the truth."
I think saragrahi Vaisnavas will understand these teachings by overlooking the faults and accepting the good qualities.
I offer homage at the lotes feet of all Vaisnavas holding a blade of grass between my teeth. I humbly beg for their mercy.
Introduction
This book is about the most auspicious life and teachings of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. It is with great pleasure that we finally present this long anticipated book about Srila Gurudeva who is a treasure house of the most ecstatic form of pure love of God. Those who are fortunate will take advantage of this book. This is more than an historical timeline of events, for this book wonderfully summarizes the entire Krsna conscious philosophy and siddhanta as practised by an unalloyed, pure devotee of the Lord.
Hearing about a pure devotee is very auspicious, as it eradicates all doubts, misconceptions, misunderstandings and confusions on the path of pure devotional service. Those who are seriously looking for happiness in Krsna consciousness must certainly give up all preconceived assumptions and transcend all sectarian designations, so that they can read this book with an open mind and get the real benefit of association with a fully realized Vaisnava.
Sri guru is the personification of Krsna's mercy in this world. He comes to deliver the conditioned souls by enlightening them on the constitutional nature and eternal function of the soul. Gradually he reveals our eternal relationship and intimate service to the Lord. When we sincerely offer our life and soul to his lotus feet, our good fortune arises and in this way Sri guru opens the way to boundless peace and happiness for the conditioned soul.
Everyone tries to remove their suffering and increase their happiness. Some try to achieve this by hard labour and following moral principles, while others take drugs, have illicit relationships, steal and such in an attempt to improve the material conditions of their life. However, we see that all these attempts are baffled and happiness still remains elusive. Whatever happiness we find in this world is meager and not everlasting.
For example, one gains some pleasure by eating food, but if one keeps on eating, the same food that gives one pleasure will cause suffering. One does not want old age, diseases and death to come; yet they come. Any sane person will ponder over this problem and try to find a solution.
The scriptures tell us that we are not our bodies; rather we are souls, eternal parts and parcels of the supreme personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. The soul's eternal constitutional function (dharma) is eternal service and obedience to Krsna, When the soul forgets his true identity as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, and instead identifies himself with the body, he is subjected to the tyranny of the illusory potency of the Lord (r.1.iiyii) and his eternal constitutional function becomes perverted.
In an attempt to enjoy, the soul wanders in the material world taking one material body after another. However, all of his efforts to enjoy are obstructed by the external potency of the Lord. The material body is subjected to various types of suffering such as birth, old age, disease and death. The embodied living entity is always subject to the three types of miseries, namely, miseries caused by the mind, miseries caused by other living entities and miseries due to natural disturbances. However, the purpose of suffering is simply so that the living entities can realize that this suffering is unwanted and that this material world is not their home. The living entities can then strive for something everlasting or eternal.
The only way to achieve everlasting happiness is by performing devotional service to Sri Krsna. Sri Krsna, who is infinitely merciful, sends his eternal associates to teach us this process, so a seeker of everlasting happiness must necessarily take shelter of such people and learn this process from them. Such a teacher who can give us this supreme treasure is called a guru.
Service to guru is the backbone of devotional absorption (bhajana).
Whoever wants to enter into the realm of bhajana, must first dedicate his life to the service of a bona fide guru. Such a guru will never consider the disciple to be his own property. Rather, he will consider the disciple to belong to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, The bona fide guru will transfer the disciple's attachment and dedication for himself (for guru) to Them.
Although he is an expansion (avesa) of Sri Krsna, He never considers himself to be Sri Krsna: He always thinks that he is His eternal servant.
Our beloved Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, is such a guru. Whoever reads this work will have a clear conception of the subject of Srila Gurudeva and his teachings. This book will be like a lighthouse that guides those aspirants who want to progress in Krsna consciousness to reach spritual perfection. lust as Srila Vvasadeva got inspiration by hearing the life history of his Gurudeva, Sri Narada Rsi, one can get inspiration from hearing the biography of Srila Gurudeva. Without hearing about and serving irf guru, no one can advance in Krsna Consciousness either now, or In the future.
The mercy of Sri guru and Vaisnavas is causeless, as it is independent ,If any material cause or piety. It is only by such causeless mercy that the jiva can obtain the merciful, sidelong glance of the eternally youthful couple of Vraja Sri Radha and Sri Krsna and join Them in Their eternal loving pastimes.
Therefore, without the mercy of real sadhus and Sri guru, pure spiritual desires for perfection will never awaken and fructify.
In describing the bona fide guru, it is never enough to just describe his external pastimes - what he was wearing, where, when, what foods he likes, ete. To properly glorify him, one must explain his teachings and his siddhanta. Unless one understands the teachings of the spiritual master, one cannot understand his mood, and if one does not understand his mood, one will not understand what his mission I, all about. By understanding his mood, one can properly execute his mission. The mission of the bona fide guru is not independent of the previous acaryas; it is the continuation of the mission that Srila Rupa Gosvami established on behalf of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Srila Rupa Gosvami understood the inner mood of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and thus wrote many transcendental books on pure bhakti to establish His mission. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give vraja-prema through nama, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. In the same way, Srila Rupa Gosvamipada is giving the same vraja- prema through nama. The same mood and objective is being carried out by the pure devotees in the Gaudiya Vaisnava line such as Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Srila Baladeva Vidvabhusana, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja.
Srila Bhaktivedanta Naravana Gosvami Maharaja is similarly continuing this powerful wave of pure bhakti - bhakti that is without a tinge of speculation, mundane janana or karma.
Sri' guru and his mission are thus never independent. The entire disciplic succession (guru-varga) is always with him. Sri' guru teaches lucidly and systematically all that he received from his spiritual master- the a,b,c, the x,y,z, and everything in between. Without securing his guiding grace, one will not be able to understand the deep meaning of his message.
People with ambitions other than to humbly serve Sri' guru and Sri Krsna are led astray by their own mind. Such unfortunate persons create enmity by finding faults in pure devotees and are unable to reconcile the apparent differences in the pure teachings of Vaisnavas. We should not hear from such persons who are the cause of their own misfortune. To understand the spiritual meaning of the pure devotee's words, one has to serve the pure devotee favourably and intimately and thus by the grace of Sri' guru, everything will be revealed in the heart. We will then be able to appreciate and understand the uncompromised quality of the siddhanta of Sri' guru.
There is no confusion as to what is pure bhakti but as long as our heart is torn with material desires we will not be single pointed in our desire to serve purely.
Unless we are ready and willing to accept pure bhakti in our heart, we will not be able to recognize or fully appreciate a pure devotee. Our intelligence will be polluted and we will lose this rare opportunity which has been made accessible to humanity by the most munificent Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has clearly explained that the great opposition in the path of bhakti is the impersonal mayavada philosophy. This impersonalism comes in many forms and keeps us deeply entrenched in illusion, such as the hollow pride of empirical ignorance, which makes its way into the heart of immature devotees, who under such influence regard certain Vaisnavas as enemies.
All devotees of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya should take shelter in His eternal spiritual community and unite to fight against such impersonalism and void ism.
Sri Krsna alone is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is declared by all authorities and throughout the Vedas. Every living entity is His eternal servant. Our mind and senses are meant to be engaged in His service and only by such engagement will we be truly happy. This engagement is only given by a pure devotee. Sri Krsna reveals Himself to His pure devotee. To the non-devotees, Krsna appears in His deluding feature. When the conditioned soul associates with the non-devotee, the Lord does not reveal Himself. Therefore the association of living pure devotees is most essential.
One's nature is determined and shaped by the company one keeps.
Such association shapes one's character. The fruitive activities we performed in our past life and our past associations have moulded our nature in this current life.
By association with the living pure devotees and by understanding the Vaisnava books, under their guidance, our lower nature will be transformed into good character.
Contents
XV
XXVII
Guru-varga Photos
XXXIII
XLI
Mangalacarana
XLIX
Sri Guru Tattva And Sri Guru Sevaka
1-43
The Path Of Auspiciousness
1
The Bona Fide Guru
7
The Sampradaya
17
Vyasa-Puja Of The Bona Fide Guru
21
Sri Guru-Parampara By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura
26
A Thief Of Hearts
30
Srila Gurudeva's Purvasrama
43-104
Birthplace
43
Srila Gurudeva's Childhood Name
49
Srila Gurudeva's Inclination As A Boy
52
Childhood: Eating With Father
54
Powerful Grandfather
55
Father's Mango Orchard
56
Horse Riding
57
Mango Pulp Cure
Taste For Srimad-Bhagavatam
58
Srila Gurudeva's School Days
59
Preaching To The Son Of His Family Guru
62
Srila Gurudeva's Previous Occupation
65
A Business Of No Loss But Only Gain
66
Disciple's Main Identification Is Guru-Parampara
71
Life Before Joining The Matha
72
Serving The Society - Serving The Devotees
78
Serving Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja
79
Eternally Indebted To Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja
83
Be Careful Of The First Offence In Chanting
85
Service To Vaisnavas Is Best
87
Krsna is Svayam Bhagavan
88
Sthayi-bhava Never Changes
96
The Preaching Of Sri Narottamananda Prabhu To Srila Gurudeva
105-138
The Nature Of The Soul
105
Story Of The King And The Saint
110
Family Duties
113
Worship Of The Demigods
115
The Process Of Bhakti-yoga
121
The Deity Of Gopinatha In Remuna
125
The Story Of Madhavendra Puri And Sri Gopala
Malayan Sandalwood
130
Sri Ksira-cora Gopinatha
131
Fame Follows The Devotee
133
Leaving Home And Going To Navadipa
135
Life In The Matha
139-155
Radhe Syama Syama Syama
139
A Well-Known Kirtaniya
141
The Dancing Of Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja
143
Teaching A Very Good Lesson
146
Matha-seva
147
Srila Gurudeva Is Awarded The Title 'Bhakta-Bandhava'
Vaisnava-seva
At Devaghara In Bihar
153
Back To Home Village
157-208
Talking With The Learned Scholar Varhsaropary a Simha
157
Visnu-tattva As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
180
Avataras As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
185
Laksmi-devi As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
187
The Jiva As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
189
Mukti As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
195
Bhakti As Stated By Sri Madhvacarya
196
Types Of Evidences According To Madhvacarya
199
Why Do You Address Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu As God?
202
Return To Matha Life
209-245
Leaving For Navadvipa
209
Travelling With His Srila Gurudeva
211
Taking Sannyasa On Gaura Purnima, 1952
212
Manasa Deha Geha
213
Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja
215
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja
222
Srila Gurudeva Begins Serving In Mathura
227
Establishing The Proper Chanting Of The Maha-mantra
A Visit From Parents
233
Association With Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja
241
Photo Gallery
246
Charts/ Tables
Calendar Chart of the
Appearance of God's Incarnations
31
Srila Gurudeva's Family Tree
The Four Sampradayas
161
Volume II
Dedication
vii
xiii
xxvi
Introduction (Continued) & Entering Aprakata-lila
xxxiii
xxxix
Sri Guru Tattva and Sri Guru-sevaka
The Glory of Gaudiya Guru-parampara
Sriman Mahaprabhu's Greatest Donation
9
The Holy name is the best process for perfection
10
Every Soul has a Particular Rasa
12
How Lobha (Spiritual Greed) will Awaken in the Heart
14
Sri Krsna's Reflection Pastime
15
Madhumangala Exchanges Clothes with Krsna.
18
Finding Srimati Radharani's Nose Ring
19
I Must Do Bhajana
The Story of Arjuna Misra
23
The Story of Padmavati and Jayadeva
28
The Uttama Bhagavata and Krpa-Patra
Krpa-Patra, The Reservoir of Mercy
Three Stages of Uttarna Bhagavara
32
Examples of Occurrences of Siddha Sarira Symptoms on the Sadhaka Sarira
34
Sri Krsna is always in Vraja
37
Srimati Radhika is Always Absorbed in Pleasing Krsna
38
The Mercy of a Rasika Vaisnava
42
Their Intimacy Could Not Have Been Greater
45
At the Guest House
46
Relationship with Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja
51
Fools Do Not Know How to Honour Vaisnavas
53
Compassion in LA
Srila Gurudeva and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja
Our First Meeting
Editorial Seva
Residing in Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha
60
Accepting Sannyasa
63
At Sri Radha-Damodara Mandira
Preparation and Departure for America
67
Return to India
68
Visiting Him in His Last Days
70
His Divine Departure
74
My Message Is One With His
75
Our Lasting Relationship
A Brief History
My Mission in the West
A Locked Treasure Chest
90
Srila Swami Maharaja's Final Order:
Letters From America
99
First Letter:
Second letter:
102
Third letter:
106
Fourth letter:
109
There is No Place for Ritvik in Sri Guru-Tattva
The Four Most Prominent Types of Rtviks [priests]
114
Why He Came? The Contribution of Sri la Gurudeva
127
The Glory of Bhakti
128
The Definition of Bhakti
138
Early ISKCON Conversations with Srila Gurudeva
Difference between Aisvarya and Madhurya
Raga-vartma-candrika
152
Samskaras, impressions on the heart
158
Remembering Krsna’s Pastimes and Serving in Separation
159
Bhavas and Rasas
174
Assisting and Meditating on our Gurudeva
181
Receiving all Moods from Sri Guru
183
Tadatmya (Oneness of Heart)
184
Gurudeva gives everything that Nityananda and Baladeva have come to give
Remembering Krsna with His Dearmost Associates
186
Tulasi
Essential Practices and Chanting of Mantras
191
Eager to Hear
Srila Gurudeva Testifies to Save ISKCON
203
ISKCON Leaders in Mathura
205
Juhu Bombay: Tamala Krsna Maharaja Takes Lessons
207
Don't Think You are the Supreme Controller
208
Case Settled
210
Protector of the Sampradaya
Lessons on Service and Absorption
217
At Ramacandra Prabhu's Home
Weeping Like A Village Girl
218
Serving Prasada
219
Service of Guest is Best, Either in East or West.
Bussing Not Allowed During Parikrama
220
Meeting With Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja
223
Pastimes with Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja
235
Beginning of Srila Gurudeva's Preaching in the West
237
Obtaining Visas for the United States
Representative Heads West
239
First Stop, Holland
Prayers to Srila Gurudeva
243
Srila Gurudeva's Arati
Sri Ramana-manjari-astakam (visamavrrtena viracitam )
245
The Concluding Transcendental Pastimes of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
253
Indications of Departure
254
Further Manifestations of Illness
258
Residing at Govardhana in Kartika
264
Absorbed in the Moods of Mahaprabhu while residing in the abode of separation (Sri jagannatha Puri-Dhama)
275
The Closing of his Pastimes
278
The Journey from Sri Puri-dhama to Sri Navadvipa-dharna
286
Nagara-sankirtana
287
Samadhi
288
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