Only by the Mercy of a Sadhu-guru by Tattva Vicara Publications

Mercy Sadhu e Only by the of a

guru

Śrī Śrīmad

Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja

Mercy Sadhu e Only by the of a

guru

only by the mercy of a sĀDHU-GURU The information in this booklet is a lecture on Çrémad-Bhägavatam 9.18.26-27, delivered by Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja on 1 April 1995, Bhubaneswar, India. Quotes from the books of Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda are copyrighted © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. First Edition 2000 copies. ISBN: 978-0-648-16300-8 © 2017 Tattva Vicara Publications

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Mercy Sadhu e Only by the of a

guru

Śrī Śrīmad

Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja

TAT T VA V I C A R A P U B L I C AT I O N S

Table of Contents Only by the Mercy of a Sādhu-guru 1 Material Attachment Is Very Strong How Can You Develop Complete Detachment? Why Do You Have this Rarely Achieved Human Birth? How Can I Become Your Dāsa? By the Mercy of Śrī-guru-vaiṣṇava Offer Prayers to Kṛṣṇa Please Give Me Unalloyed Devotion What Is the Only Means? Surrender Unto Śrī-guru-vaiṣṇava The Vision of a Sādhu Without the Mercy of Sādhu-Guru No One Can Conquer Māyā Offer this Prayer to Gopīnāth Gopīnāth – Song 2 Gopīnāth – Song 3 Only by the Mercy of Sādhu-guru Kṛṣṇa Is the Only Enjoyer The Proper Use of Your Independence Always Stay in the Association of Sādhus Who Is Sad-guru & Who Is Sat-śiṣya? Free from Fear and Lamentation Go and Approach a Sādhu-guru Cry from the Core of Your Heart You Will Be Able to Kick Māyā Sādhu-saṅga Is Required Who Is a Real Sādhu?

Question & Answers How Can I Recognise a Sādhu? Is it a Lap of Roses or a Lap of Thorns? Unconditional Surrender

3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 19 20 20 21 23 25 26 29 29 31 32 33 33 34 35

Only by the Mercy of a Sādhu-guru våñaparvä tam äjïäya pratyanéka-vivakñitam guruà prasädayan mürdhnä pädayoù patitaù pathi “King Våñaparvä understood that Çukräcärya was coming to chastise or curse him. Consequently, before Çukräcärya came to his house, Våñaparvä went out and fell down in the street at the feet of his guru and satisfied him, checking his wrath.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 9.18.26)

kñaëärdha-manyur bhagavän çiñyaà vyäcañöa bhärgavaù kämo ‘syäù kriyatäà räjan nainäà tyaktum ihotsahe “The powerful Çukräcärya was angry for a few moments, but upon being satisfied he said to Våñaparvä: ‘My dear King, kindly fulfill the desire of Devayäné, for she is my daughter and in this world I cannot give her up or neglect her.’” (ÇrémadBhägavatam 9.18.27)

Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Sometimes a great personality like Çukräcärya cannot neglect sons and daughters, for sons and daughters are by nature dependent on their father and the father has affection for them. Although Çukräcärya knew that the quarrel between Devayäné and Çarmiñöhä was childish, as Devayäné’s father, he had to side with his daughter. He did not like to do this, but he was obliged to because of affection. He plainly admitted that although he should not have asked the King for mercy for his daughter, because of affection he could not avoid doing so. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 9.18.27, purport.)

Material Attachment Is Very Strong This material affection is very, very, very strong. It is not easy to avoid it. Even for great personalities like Çukräcärya, so what to speak of you? puàsaù striyä mithuné-bhävam etaà tayor mitho hådaya-granthim ähuù ato gåha-kñetra-sutäpta-vittair janasya moho ‘yam ahaà mameti “The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of ‘I and mine’.” (ÇrémadBhägavatam 5.5.8)

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru How Can You Develop Complete Detachment? The Fifth Canto of the Bhägavatam states, ato gåha-kñetra-sutäptavittair, “Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine.” This gåha – ghara mora1, dhana mora2, jana mora3, sampatti mora4, bhäryä mora5, pua mora6, jhia mora7, bhäi mora8, bandhu mora9, kuöumba mora10, jäti mora11, kula mora12, deça mora13* – is not easy to give up. It is mentioned here that even a great personality like Çukräcärya, who knows this, could not give it up. This material attachment, this moha, delusion or illusion, is very strong. How can one give it up, become completely detached and develop devotion, bhakti? How can you develop complete detachment and develop attachment towards the lotus feet of Kåñëa? It is completely impossible. It is not possible at all, is it? Have you given it up? You have not given it up. How can we give up duranta-moha?**

Why Do You Have this Rarely Achieved Human Birth? ki-rüpe päiba sevä mui duräcära çré-gurü-vaiñëave rati nä haila ämära (Prärthanä 46) “I am a most stupid rascal, duräcära. I have performed all kinds of nonsensical activities. Not once or twice, but sahasra – thousands, and thousands, and thousands of times I have done * (1) my home, (2) my wealth, (3) my family, (4) my opulence, (5) my wife, (6) my child, (7) my popularity, (8) my brother, (9) my friend, (10) my family members, (11) my caste, (12) my dynasty, (13) my country. **Unsurpassable, limitless ‘mine’.

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru it. So how can I develop attachment to Your lotus feet O Lord? How can I serve You? I have no attachment at all towards You. I have such strong attachment to this deha, geha, kalatra, this body, home, hearth, wife, son, and daughter. This attachment is like very strong glue. It is never separating, so how can I serve You? I have no attachment at all towards Your lotus feet.” One should develop only attachment towards the lotus feet of Kåñëa. Kåñëa is the only object of love but what have you developed? You have developed love and affection to this body and bodily relations; son, daughter, wife and so-called friends. So how can you become krñëa-däsa, a servant of Kåñëa? How can you develop bhakti? Bhakti is the only thing that is required for us. This rarely achieved human birth is only meant for that. Why has the Lord given you this rarely achieved birth? Is it meant for eating stool? Would it be better to be given the birth of a hog or a dog? Why have you become a human being? Tell me, why did the Lord give you this birth? Devotee: To develop prema-bhakti, loving devotion.

How Can I Become Your Dāsa? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: To develop prema-bhakti. He gave you this birth only to develop attachment towards Kåñëa, and to serve Him. It is meant for that. But I am such a duräcära, rascal. I am so stupid that I am always engaged in all kinds of nonsensical activities, not once or twice, but thousands and thousands of times. I have no attachment so how can I become Your däsa? What is the means?

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru By the Mercy of Śrī-guru-vaiṣṇava Çré-gurü-vaiñëave rati nä haila ämära, those, who are completely – day and night, 24-hours – engaged in the loving service of the Lord, are çré-guru-vaiñëava. They have no material attachment. They have no attachment to this nasty body, bodily relations, wife, son, daughter, home, hearth, and so-called friends. They have not the least attachment. No. They have only attachment towards the lotus feet of Kåñëa. Unless you get their mercy how can you develop such attachment? You cannot. Therefore they have taught us to offer prayers to Him.

Offer Prayers to Kṛṣṇa Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has said: viñaye je préti ebe ächaye ämär sei-mata préti hauk caraëe tomär (Gétävalé 4.5) “O Lord, I am a viñayé, a gross materialistic person. I have such strong attachment to the objects of sense enjoyment; my home, hearth, wife, son and daughter. I have no attachment towards Your lotus feet. Please, transform this strong attachment that I have for these material objects of sense enjoyment towards Your lotus feet.” If you are serious, you should only offer prayers from the core of your heart at the lotus feet of Kåñëa. He can do and undo anything. Nothing is impossible for Him. He can make the impossible possible, and the possible impossible. Cry before Him and offer your prayers to Him. That is what Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has said.

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru vipade sampade tähä thäkuk sama-bhäve dine dine våddhi hauk nämera prabhäve (Gétävalé 4.6) “O Lord, let my attachment towards You always remain equal both in times of distress and happiness, in pleasure and pain, dine dine våddhi hauk nämera prabhäve, and let it increase day by day by chanting Your holy name.” Hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare, hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare. This is the prayer.

Please Give Me Unalloyed Devotion paçu-pakñi ho’ye thäki svarge vä niroye tava bhakti rahu bhaktivinoda-hådoye (Gétävalé 4.7) “I am such a rascal, a great materialistic person. I have such strong attachment to my home and hearth, body, and bodily relations. I have performed so many abominable materialistic activities. Great reactions are awaiting me. As a result I must take birth as a beast, or bird, or worm, or germ. Let me have it, because I deserve it. I deserve it according to my previous birth, prärabdha karma, so let me have it.” A Vaiñëava, a pure devotee never disturbs the Lord by asking, “Please destroy my karmic reaction.” He never says that. Rather he says, “Let me have the birth that I deserve according to my prärabdha karma. According to the reaction of my materialistic activities, let me have the birth of a beast, or bird, or worm, or germ. Wherever I may be placed – I may be placed in svarga, a heavenly planet or in a hellish planet – it does not matter, I have only one prayer.” What is that prayer? Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru has said, “Tava bhakti rahu bhaktivinoda-hådoye – only give me unalloyed devotion. In whatever body I may be, in whatever planetary system I may be, please grant me unalloyed devotion.” This is the only prayer they have taught us.

What Is the Only Means? Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura has said: ki-rüpe päiba sevä mui duräcära çré-gurü-vaiñëave rati nä haila ämära (Prärthanä 46.1) “Unless we develop attachment towards the lotus feet of çréguru-vaiñëava, unless we get their mercy, we cannot develop attachment to the lotus feet of Kåñëa.” The only means to develop attachment to the lotus feet of Kåñëa, is to develop attachment to the lotus feet of çré-guruvaiñëava. The only means to cut off this material attachment, to develop complete detachment from this material world – our material relationships and attachment of home and hearth, wife and children – is to develop attachment to the lotus feet of çréguru-vaiñëava. Surrender unto them and get their mercy. This is stated in çästra, and sädhu-mahäjanas, the great pure devotees, have said it. It is stated in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam: prasaìgam ajaraà päçam ätmanaù kavayo viduù sa eva sädhuñu kåto mokña-dväram apävåtam

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru “Every learned man knows very well that attachment for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self-realised devotees, opens the door of liberation.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.25.20)

So this is the only means. There is no other means. Otherwise we cannot become a servant of Kåñëa, krñëa-däsa, but we become mäyä-däsa. For lakhs and lakhs of lives we have already been mäyä-däsa. What possibility is there that you will become krñëadäsa? How can you develop detachment from mäyä and develop attachment towards the lotus feet of Kåñëa. Is there any possibility?

Surrender Unto Śrī-guru-vaiṣṇava The only possibility is if you surrender unto a çré-guru-vaiñëava. Get his mercy and develop attachment towards him. Then by his mercy you will develop attachment to the lotus feet of Kåñëa. Otherwise there is no possibility. This is the only means. Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura continues: açeña mäyäte mana magana haila vaiñëavete leça-mätra rati nä janmila (Prärthanä 46.2) “My mind is always drowning in illusion. I have not even the smallest fragment of devotion for the Vaiñëavas.”

I am not even having a small fragment of devotion towards the lotus feet of çré-guru-vaiñëavas, so how can I develop attachment towards Kåñëa and the lotus feet of Kåñëa? I have no hope at all. No hope, no hope, no hope!

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru The Vision of a Sādhu viñaye bhuliyä andha hainu dibä-niçi gale phäìsa dite phire mäyä se piçäcé (Prärthanä 46.3) “I have become blind by constantly meditating on the objects of the senses. The mäyä-witch has placed a hangman’s noose around my neck.” Are you blind or do you have eyes? Devotee: Blind. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: He is blind. He admits it. And you, are you blind, or do you have eyes? He is also blind. It is very good that they are admitting. Yes, then there is hope. They are not careless. They are aware of being blind. There are so many people who are really blind but do not admit it. “What did you say? I am blind? You are blind. I have eyes. You rascal, you called me blind. I’ll beat you with my shoes.” They will get angry with you. They are really blind but say, “No, we have eyes. You are blind!” What is real vision? Who has eyes? Who has real vision? Devotee: Sädhu, a self-realised soul. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Sädhu? What kind of vision does a sädhu have? Devotee: premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena.* Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: premäïjana-cchurita-bhaktivilocanena. If you can see the all-beautiful Kåñëa, the all-beautiful *The eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love. [Trans. Brahma-saàhitä 5.38]

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Çyämasundara, then you are endowed with proper vision. Otherwise you are a blind man. Material vision means blindness. Therefore Narottama däsa Öhäkura has said, “viñaye bhuliya andha hainu dibä-niçi, I am a great materialistic person. I have a very strong attachment to the objects of material enjoyment; to this nasty body, bodily relations, material relations, home, hearth, wife, son and daughter. Day and night I am engaged in all kinds of nonsensical activities. I have completely forgotten You, O Kåñëa. Therefore I am blind. Gale phaìsa dite phire mäyä se piçäcé, mäyä, I only see mäyä, the ugly witch, piçäcé. I cannot see You, O all-beautiful Lord, O Çyämasundara. I am bereft of that vision of premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocana, and therefore I am a blind man. I cannot see Your beautiful Çyämasundara form. I only see the ugly witch mäyä. She has put a noose around my neck and is dragging me hither and thither.” This is what the mahäjanas say, gale phaìsa dite phire mäyä piçäcé.

Without the Mercy of Sādhu-Guru No One Can Conquer Māyā mäyäre kariya jayachädän nä jäya, sädhu-guru kåpä vinä nähika upäya “Even if I could cure my blindness and defeat the mäyä hangman, I cannot become free from material illusion, without the mercy of the sädhu-guru and the saintly devotees.”

Without the mercy of sädhu-guru no one can conquer mäyä. Mäyä is very strong. The material nature is very strong. In the Gétä (7.14) you will find, daivé hy eñä guëa-mayé mama mäyä duratyayä. The tri-guëa-mayé mäyä, three modes of material nature

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru – goodness, passion and ignorance – are very strong. No one can conquer them. However powerful a personality may be, he still cannot conquer them. The three modes of material nature are unconquerable. What is the way to conquer such strong mäyä? What is the means? Kåñëa, who is mäyä-diça, the master of mäyä, has said, “Mäm eva ye prapadyante mäyäm etäà taranti te,* those who surrender unto Me can easily cross beyond mäyä.” Mäyä works under His superintendence. In the Gétä, Kåñëa has said, “Mayädhyakñeëa prakåtiù süyate sa-caräcaram.** Prakåtiù, the material nature or illusory energy works under My superintendence.” Only one who is fortunate, intelligent and wise, and who completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the master of mäyä, Kåñëa, can conquer mäyä. That is the only means. And how can you surrender unto Kåñëa without the mercy of sädhu-guru? Sädhu-guru-vaiñëavas are completely surrendered souls. They can teach you how to surrender. Unless you go to them, unless you accept a sädhu-guru-vaiñëava as your teacher, and unless he teaches you how to surrender unto Kåñëa, how can you surrender unto Kåñëa? No, you cannot. Therefore, sädhu-guru kåpä vinä nähika upäya, it is only by the mercy of Kåñëa and the mercy of sädhu-guru, there is no other means. Therefore, the first thing is to come to sädhu-guru and surrender unto him. tad viddhi praëipätena paripraçnena sevayä upadekñyanti te jïänaà jïäninas tattva-darçinaù (Bhagavad-gétä 4.34) * Bhagavad-gétä 7.14 ** Bhagavad-gétä 9.10

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru This is the means: praëipäta, paripraçna sevä – surrender, humble inquiry and service. Go to a sädhu-guru, a dear devotee of Kåñëa, a dear devotee of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, a gaura-priya-jana, and surrender unto him. Praëipäta means surrender. Çiñyas te 'haà çädhi mäà tväà prapannam,* “O sädhu, O guru, I become your çiñya.” Çiñya means what? Disciple. One who is under discipline is a disciple.

Offer this Prayer to Gopīnāth The mahäjana-sädhu Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has offered a prayer at the lotus feet of Gopénäth for our benefit. This prayer is the only means. So you should offer it. gopénäth, kemone çodhibe more nä jäni bhakati, karme jaòa-mati, poòechi soàsära-ghore “O Gopénäth, how is it possible to purify someone like me? I have no idea about what devotion is, for my materialistic mind is completely absorbed in fruitive actions and reactions. It is my pitiful condition. I have fallen into the ghastly dark pit of this material world.”

gopénäth, sakali tomära mäyä nähi mama bala, jïäna sunirmala, swädéna nahe e käyä “O Gopénäth, everything in this world is made of Your temporary illusory energy. This body is also, and it is totally dependent on strict material laws. Being trapped within such * Bhagavad-gétä 2.7

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru a body, I now find myself helplessly defeated and bereft of all transcendental knowledge.”

gopénäth, niyata caraëe sthäna mäge e pämara, kändiyä kändiyä, korohe karuëä däna “O Gopénäth, this sinner is weeping and weeping, begging piteously for an eternal place close by Your lotus feet. Please, please, be merciful and bestow such a favour on this fallen soul.”

gopénäth, tumi to’ sakali päro durjane tärite, tomära çakati, ke äche päpéra äro “O Gopénäth, You are the Supreme Lord. You can undo all things. You can make the impossible possible, the possible impossible. Those persons who are envious rogues, only You can subdue them. I cannot subdue them. I am a great rogue.”

gopénäth, tumi kåpä-päräbära jévera käraëe, äsiyä prapaïce, lélä koile subistära “O Gopénäth, You are like an unlimited ocean of causeless mercy. Just to show compassion to all the fallen souls, You personally come into this material world and expand so many nice pastimes before their very eyes.”

gopénäth, ämi ki doñe dosi asura sakala, päilo caraëa, vinoda thäkilo bosi’

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru “O Gopénäth, how much of a sinner amongst sinners am I? So many demons have attained Your lotus feet, but Bhaktivinoda has simply remained here trapped in this worldly existence.”

Gopīnāth – Song 2 gopinäth, ghucäo saàsära jvälä avidyä-jätanä, äro nähi sahe, janama-maraëa-mälä “O Gopénäth, Lord of the gopés, please remove the burning torment I am feeling. I will not be able to tolerate even one second more of the pain and agony of this repeated succession of births and deaths steeped in the mode of ignorance.”

Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: I am feeling burning torment, because I have fallen here in this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence, afflicted with the three täpas, the three kinds of miserable conditions – ädhyätmika, ädhidaivika, ädhibhautika.* It is very strong, like a blazing fire. I am in a burning cauldron. Can you also feel it? gopénäth, ämi to’ kämera däsa viñaya-bäsanä, jägiche hådoye, phädiche karama phäsa “O Gopénäth, I am actually the most faithful servant of lust. So many desires for mundane sense enjoyment are dawning within my heart, and I am being choked by the noose of fruitive actions and reactions.” * ädhyätmika – miseries pertaining to the body and mind. ädhidaivika – miseries inflicted upon us by natural disturbances from earthquakes, famines, droughts, floods, epidemics, and so on. ädhibhautika – miseries pertaining to the difficulties imposed by society, community, nation and other living entities.

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru gopinäth, kabe vä jägibo ämi käma-rüpa ari, düre teyägibo, hådoye sphuribe tumi “O Gopénäth, tell me when I will finally wake up and abandon afar my most formidable enemy in the form of lust? I will only be able to do so if You would kindly manifest Yourself in my heart.”

gopénäth, ämi to’ tomära jana tomäre chäriyä, saàsära bhajinu, bhuliyä äpana-dhana “O Gopénäth, I am actually Your eternal devotee, but somehow or other I have abandoned You to worship this useless material world. Thus I have completely forgotten about the supreme treasure which is my birthright.”

gopinäth, tumi to’ sakali jäno äpanära jane, daëòiyä ekhano, çré-caraëe aeho sthäno “O Gopinath, You certainly know everything. If You wish, You may now punish this servant and kindly give him eternal residence close by Your lotus feet.”

gopénäth, ei ki vicära taba bimukha dekhiyä, chäro nija-jane, na koro’ karuëä-laba “O Gopinath, tell me, is this Your mentality? Do You see that Your own eternal servant is averse to You in this world, and seeing thus, You completely abandon him, not bestowing even a drop of mercy?”

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru gopénäth, ämi to mürakha ati kise bhälo hoya, kabhu nä bujhinu, täi heno mama gati “O Gopénäth, I am without a doubt the greatest of fools. I could never understand what was good for me. Such is my fate.”

gopénäth, tumi to’ paëòita-bara müòhera maìgala, tumi anveñibe, e däse nä bhävo’ para “O Gopénäth, You are indeed the wisest person of all. Therefore I am now requesting You to find some way to bring about auspiciousness for this great fool. Please do not consider that this servant is some outsider.”

Gopīnāth – Song 3 gopénäth, ämära upäya näi tumi kåpä kori’, ämäre loile, saàsäre uddhära päi “O Gopénäth, Lord of the gopés, I cannot see any possible means of deliverance. Only if You bestow Your causeless mercy and take me back to Godhead, then it will be possible for me to get out of this predicament.”

gopénäth, poòechi mäyära phere dhana, dära, suta, ghireche ämäre, kämete rekheche jere

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru “O Gopénäth, I have fallen into the dangerous perils of material illusion. Wealth, wife and sons have completely encircled me, and I have been wasted away by the smouldering coals of lust.”

gopénäth, mana je pägala mora nä mäne çäsana, sadä acetana, viñaye ro ‘yeche ghora “O Gopénäth, my mind has gone completely insane. It has no respect at all for any kind of authority, and it is forcing me to remain senselessly in the dark ghastly pit of material sense gratification.”

gopinäth, hära je menechi ämi aneka jatana, hoilo biphala, ekhano bharasä tumi “O Gopénäth, I now give in and accept my defeat. All of my various endeavours have proved futile. Now You and You alone are my only last hope.”

gopénäth, kemone hoibe gati prabala indriya, boçé-bhüta mana, nä chäre viñaya-rati “O Gopénäth, how can I make any advancement towards the ultimate goal? My mind has come under the control of the powerful senses and cannot give up its addiction to enjoying material sense objects.”

gopénäth, hådoye bosiyä mora manake çamiyä, laho nija päne, ghucibe vipada ghora

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru “O Gopénäth, the horrible dangerous predicament I am faced with in this world will cease only if You would kindly make my heart Your sitting place. Subduing my mind, please attract me to Yourself from within.”

gopénäth, anätha dekhiyä more tumi håñékeça, håñéka damiyä, täro ‘he saàsåti-ghore “O Gopénäth, You are known as Håñékeça, the Master of the senses. Seeing me in such a helpless condition, kindly subdue my senses and deliver me from this dark and perilous worldly existence.”

gopénäth, galäya legeche phäsa kåpä-asi dhori’, bandhana chediyä, vinode koroho däsa “O Gopénäth, the noose of materialism is very tightly fixed around my neck. Taking up the sharp sword of Your mercy and severing this bondage, please make this Bhaktivinoda Your eternal servant again.”

Sädhu-mahäjana, çré-guru teaches you this prayer that we should offer at the lotus feet of Gopénäth. Sädhu-guru kåpä vinä nähika upäya, no other means is there except the mercy of sädhu-guru.

Only by the Mercy of Sādhu-guru Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura has said: adoña-daraçé prabhho patita uddhär, ei bära narottame karaha nistär

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru “O purifier of the sinful, such uttama-bhaktas as yourself, only see Kåñëa everywhere. They see everyone as krñëa-däsa. They never see fault. O master, O saviour of the fallen souls please rescue this Narottama däsa.”

The great, topmost devotees – mahä-bhägavatas, uttamabhägavatas see everyone as krñëa-däsa. They have such vision only. These are the words of sädhu-guru-mahäjanas, and çästra confirms that there is no other means how we can give up this strong material attachment to home and hearth, wife, son, daughter, so-called friends, and develop detachment from it and develop attachment to the lotus feet of Kåñëa. What is the means? Only by the mercy of sädhu-guru may this be possible otherwise there is no possibility.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Only Enjoyer Then there is another question. What should be in our thoughts? Which thought should we keep in our mind so that everything will be auspicious? That is the question. Sädhu-mahäjanas have given the answer to it: You should understand that whatever you see and find here in this whole world, is all paraphernalia for Kåñëa’s enjoyment. Kåñëa is the only enjoyer and this paraphernalia is all for Kåñëa’s enjoyment. Not for your enjoyment. This is the thought. If you can always keep this thought in your stupid mind, then there will be all auspiciousness.

The Proper Use of Your Independence You are a minute jéva with minute independence. Give up that minute independence and completely surrender. That is the

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru proper use of independence. Karuëayä-dätä, the Supreme Lord has mercifully granted you this minute independence to use it properly. What is its proper use? That is to surrender. sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja (Bhagavad-gétä 18.66) This is the most concluding instruction in the Bhagavad-gétä: “Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me.” However, unless you have independence, you cannot do that. How can you surrender if you have no independence? You cannot. However, a jéva can, because a jéva has minute independence and the Lord has granted this minute independence to him mercifully, karuëayä-dätä. If you do not surrender to Kåñëa then you abuse your independence and will be forced to come under the clutches of mäyä. That is abuse of independence. Give up your minute independence and make proper use of it by completely surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Kåñëa. That is the proper use of your independence. You are His däsa, eternal servant and should render loving service without duplicity and without crookedness unto the lotus feet of Kåñëa under the proper guidance of sädhu-guru. If you can do this, it is guaranteed that you will get Kåñëa in this life. There is no question of pessimism. It is all optimism.

Always Stay in the Association of Sādhus A sädhu-guru-vaiñëava is completely surrendered, and is day and night, 24-hours engaged in loving service of Kåñëa. That means he is constantly with Kåñëa. He can show you Kåñëa and he can

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru give you Kåñëa. You have to go to him. You have to surrender unto him, and you have to hear kåñëa-kathä from him. Then there will be all-auspiciousness, otherwise not. Such sädhus, such Vaiñëavas, premé-bhaktas have developed this vision. They are endowed with such vision. What vision do they have? Those who have smeared the ointment of love on their eyes, premäïjanacchurita-bhakti-vilocanena, who are endowed with bhakti-cakñu, the vision of devotion, always see the all-beautiful Çyämasundara Kåñëa, within and without. You have to associate with such sädhu-guru-vaiñëavas. They have bound up Çyämasundara Kåñëa with the rope of love in their hearts. If you surrender unto such sädhu-guru, serve him, please him, and get his mercy then you will be endowed with that vision and you can see the beautiful form of Lord Çyämasundara, within and without. This is the only means. Therefore we should not even waste a moment. We should be very restless now thinking, “How can I serve such a sädhu? How can I get his mercy? How can I serve Kåñëa?” Yes, feel restless, restless, restless, day and night restless. How can I always stay in the association of such sädhus? Yes! Always stay in the association of such sädhus. If you can stay always in the association of such sädhus then you will develop the mentality of rendering loving service to Kåñëa. Then you will develop this mentality of bhakti. Then you will really become krñëa-däsa. Otherwise you cannot become krñëa-däsa. You are a great mäyä-däsa. It is not an easy thing to become krñëa-däsa. It is not easy. That mentality will be developed in you. Those surrendered souls, sädhu-gurus, they teach us how to surrender unto Kåñëa. It is not an easy thing that by yourself you will surrender. Can you? No. You should learn from them. You should be their student or disciple. Disciple means one who is under strict discipline. He is a disciple.

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Who Is Sad-guru & Who Is Sat-śiṣya? Then the question comes; who is a true disciple, sat-çiñya? There is the question of sad-guru and the question of sat-çiñya. Who is sad-guru and who is sat-çiñya? Devotee: Sad-guru is tattva-darçi. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, sad-guru is tattva-darçi. He constantly sees Çyämasundara Kåñëa within and without. He, who has bound up Kåñëa with the rope of love in his heart, who is day and night, 24-hours engaged in the loving service of Kåñëa, and who is always with Kåñëa, is sad-guru. Who is sat-çiñya? Devotee: He who accepts discipline without hesitation. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: One who accepts the discipline of sad-guru without hesitation. He accepts it gladly. No grumbling. Accept the very severe discipline guru will inflict on you. When guru catches hold of your ear and slaps you, “You rascal,” that is his mercy. Guru-daëòa, the punishment of guru is mercy. One who accepts such discipline ungrudgingly, gladly, is sat-çiñya. In other words, who always gives guru the opportunity to inflict discipline on him. Devotee: Why would he do that? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Because he is a great mäyä-däsa. He has developed such strong attachment to mäyä, to this nasty body and bodily relations. He has no tinge of attachment towards Kåñëa. Such strong attachment he has to the objects of sense enjoyment, attachment to home and hearth, wife, son, daughter, children. So many lustful desires he has in his heart. His heart is all filled with it. Therefore, what does he need?

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Devotee: Discipline. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: He needs discipline. He needs punishment. Devotee: What if the sat-disciple does everything correctly and exhibits no fault? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: You think so? You have no fault? Devotee: Sat-çiñya. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: What did we sing in the Gopénäth song? What did Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura say? “I am so fallen. I am a great materialistic person. I have no pure knowledge at all. I do not know what is good for me. Mäyä has put a very strong noose around my neck and is dragging me. Yes. I am mürkha, completely ignorant. I have no pure knowledge at all. So I do not know what is good for me or what is bad for me, therefore I am doing all nonsense. So I deserve punishment. Who gives the opportunity to guru to always inflict punishment on him and accepts it gladly? Sat-çiñya. Yes, he is sat-çiñya. It is not that guru will pat you. That is cheating. Sädhu-guru has two things: kåpä and vaïcana, mercy and cheating. What are you getting, mercy or cheating? If he pats your back, “Oh you are very nice, very nice.” Then you are cheated. You cannot get mercy. If you get punishment then that is mercy. Therefore it is said that one, who always gives guru the opportunity to inflict severe punishment on him, is sat-çiñya. Then you will get the mercy of the guru, and you will be able to completely surrender unto Kåñëa. Otherwise you cannot surrender. Kåñëa accepts one who completely surrenders as His own man, and Kåñëa fulfills all his desires. Yes. Kåñëa sei satya kare, yei mäge bhåtya,* whatever such a surrendered servant begs, Kåñëa immediately fulfills. Kåñëa has power. Only He can give us shelter. That power He * Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 15.66

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru has. He is our only shelter. His lotus feet are the only shelter. No one else has such power. Only Kåñëa has. If you develop strong faith, unflinching faith in this statement then you will be able to surrender completely at His lotus feet and you will become fearless. You will never be afraid of any materialistic situation in this nasty world, where there is danger at every step, pade pade vipadam. Everyone is in a dangerous situation at every moment. Yes, all are in a fearful condition, but such a surrendered soul is fearless. He is happy. He is peaceful and blissful, because he has taken shelter at the lotus feet of Kåñëa.

Free from Fear and Lamentation abhoya-açoka-amåtera-sthala tomära caraëa-dvaya tähäte ekhona, viçräma labhiyä chäòinu bhavera bhoya (Çaraëägati Çréla Bhaktivinodha Öhäkura) “O Kåñëa, Your two lotus feet, where there is no fear, no lamentation, and no death, are so beautiful. Now that I have taken shelter there I am free from all material fear and lamentation, even the fear of death.” One, who has full faith in the lotus feet of Kåñëa, will definitely get all-auspiciousness. You cannot imagine what great auspiciousness there is. There is no language to express it, and a completely surrendered soul gets that. This should be our thought. If you keep this thought in your mind then you will get all-auspiciousness.

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Go and Approach a Sādhu-guru So the main theme is that one should go and approach such a sädhu-guru – as I explained already – a premé-bhakta, dear devotee of Kåñëa and very dear devotee of Mahäprabhu; a gaura-priyajana, who is completely surrendered and engaged 24-hours, day and night in the loving service of Kåñëa; one who has no other business, and has bound up Kåñëa in his heart with the rope of love; one who sees the all-beautiful Çyämasundara within and without, who can give you Kåñëa, and who can show you Kåñëa. Approach such a sädhu-guru, surrender unto him, serve him, please him and hear from him kåñëa-kathä, bhägavata-kathä. You have to hear. You have to. You have to. You have to. Three times! I put emphasis on it by saying it three times. You have to do it. You have to do it. You have to do it. There is no other means. Then good fortune arises. Hearing from him you can understand who you are, who Kåñëa is and what your eternal relationship is with Him. Otherwise you cannot understand this. Because the conditioned soul is forgetting Kåñëa, he is undergoing birth in lakhs, thousands of species of life. Sometimes the conditioned soul is in the heavenly planets, sometimes in bhüloka, the earth planet. Sometimes he is in naraka, a hellish planet. Sometimes he is a demigod, sometimes a demon, sometimes a human being, sometimes a bird, or a beast, or a reptile, a worm, or a germ. Sometimes he is a master and sometimes a servant. In this way he is repeatedly revolving in the cycle of birth and death. ei-rüpe saàsära bhramite kona jana sädhu-saìge nija-tattva avagata hana (Prema-vivarta 6.7)

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru In this way, after wandering, and wandering in lakhs of brahmäëòas, thousands of universes, the bhagyavän-jana, the fortunate jéva comes for sädhu-saìga. When hearing from sädhu he understands who he is, “Oh, I am krñëa-däsa!” Unless you hear from such a sädhu you cannot understand that you are krñëa-däsa. You cannot understand that you are not the enjoyer, but that Kåñëa is the only enjoyer. Can you understand that? Are you the enjoyer? Devotee: No. A jéva is not the enjoyer. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Jéva. You are a jéva, and you say that the jéva is not the enjoyer, but can you say that you are not the enjoyer? Can you say this? A dog or hog cannot say that. Who can say it? Only a premé-bhakta, a dear devotee of Kåñëa who is completely surrendered, a pure devotee can say that. No one else can say it. A conditioned soul, ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä, who is bewildered by his false ego because his false ego is very great, can he say it? He cannot say it. He says, “Yes, I am the enjoyer. This is all paraphernalia for my enjoyment.” He cannot say that this is all paraphernalia for Kåñëa’s enjoyment. But you should understand that the jéva is not the enjoyer. He cannot be the enjoyer. So who can understand it? One who is çiñya, who has accepted such a bona fide guru, vaiñëava-guru, sädhu-guru and is really under the strict discipline of him, only he can understand it. He has become the dog of such a Vaiñëava, “O vaiñëava öhäkura, ämi tomära kukkur, I am your dog. Only one, who accepts such a sädhu-guru and who has become his dog, can say it. Those who never accept a sädhuguru, who have not become the dog of such sädhu-vaiñëava are not çiñya. They are not real disciples. They are not Vaiñëavas at all. They are all ahaìkära-vimüòhätmä, bewildered by their great false ego. They have such strong attachment to this material world and this material body – to this nasty body and bodily relations,

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru to wife, to son, daughters and friends. Therefore they cannot say it. But when one comes for satsaìga, sädhu-saìga and surrenders unto that sädhu and hears from him, then he understands, “Oh, I am krñëa-däsa!” Otherwise he cannot understand that. nija-tattva jäni ära saàsära na cäya kena vä bhajinu mäyä kare häya häya (Prema-vivarta 6.8) He understands, “Oh, I am krñëa-däsa. I have a constant perfect eternal loving relationship with Kåñëa. Kåñëa is my eternal master, and I am his eternal servant.” Then he will develop detachment to this material world and he will say “Alaaas! Alaaas! Why have I become mäyä-däsa for so many, many lakhs of lives?” In this way say nija-tattva jäni ära saàsära na cäya, kena vä bhajinu mäyä kare häya häya. Otherwise you cannot say it. kände bole, ohe kåñëa! ämi tava däsa tomära caraëa chäòi’ haila sarva-näça (Prema-vivarta 6.9) Cry before Kåñëa and say, “Ohe kåñëa! ämi tava däsa, O Kåñëa, I am Your däsa, I am Your servant, but I am completely doomed here in this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence because of neglecting Your lotus feet. Because of not serving Your lotus feet. Because of not becoming Your däsa.” Cry and say that. When you cry, Kåñëa thinks, “Now he is crying for Me.” Unless you cry, Kåñëa will never hear your prayer. He will never listen to you. Cry before Kåñëa and with an open heart saying, “O Kåñëa, I am Yours! I am Yours! I am Your däsa! But somehow I have fallen here in this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence and have been drowning and suffering here since time immemorial because of neglecting Your lotus feet, because of not becoming Your däsa.”

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru When you cry like that, then Kåñëa will listen to you. Those who have cried for Kåñëa, have gotten Kåñëa. Dhruva, a five-year-old boy, left home crying, “Where is the lotus-eyed Hari? Where is my lotus-eyed Hari? “Always crying and saying that, he got Him. Bilvamaìgala Öhäkura cried. He blinded himself and he got Him. All those who have cried, have gotten Kåñëa. Unless you cry, how can you get Kåñëa?

Cry from the Core of Your Heart käkuti kariyä kåñëe òäke eka-bära kåpä kari kåñëa täre chäòäna saàsära (Prema-vivarta 6.10) With folded hands and shedding tears, cry from the core of your heart. You should understand that you cannot shed crocodile tears. No. Kåñëa will never listen to your crying if it is superfluous. You have to cry from the core of your heart before Kåñëa. With folded hands just offer prayers to Him, then Kåñëa will shower His mercy on you and thereby you will develop complete detachment from the material world and develop attachment to Him. Otherwise there is no possibility.

You Will Be Able to Kick Māyā mäyäke pichane räkhi’ kåñëa-päne cäya bhajite bhajite kåñëa-päda-padma päya (Prema-vivarta 6.11) When you get the mercy of Kåñëa you will develop strong attachment towards the lotus feet of Kåñëa and complete

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru detachment from the material world, and then you will be able to kick mäyä. “Mäyä get out from here!” Can you do this? No, you cannot. Why not? You do not want? You have no strength to kick mäyä. Mäyä is so strong. Unless you get spiritual strength from Kåñëa, you cannot kick mäyä. If you cry before Kåñëa from the core of your heart, then Kåñëa will shower His mercy upon you, and then you will be very strong. Then you will be able to kick mäyä. “Mäyä, get out from here!” No more looking back at mäyä. Not that you first listen to mäyä, but then acknowledge, “Oh guru says this.” But understand that when you listen to guru, mäyä calls again, “Oh, why are you leaving my lap? For such a long time I kept you on my lap.” Mäyä is hugging you, nicely patting you, kissing you, “Why are you leaving me?” while holding a nice garland for you and making a tinkling sound. You are in a dilemma. “Where to go, mäyä’s call or Kåñëa’s call? Whose call will I respond to?” You are in a fix. Don’t be in a fix! Be fixed at the lotus feet of Kåñëa! No more mäyä, “Get out! Get out!” Look back no more! Completely turn your back to mäyä. That is possible when you have received Kåñëa’s mercy, because then you are very strong. Only then you can kick mäyä and not look back. When you engage in kåñëa-bhajana under the guidance of sädhuguru, ultimately you will get the lotus feet of Kåñëa, bhajite bhajite kåñëa-päda-padma päya. kåñëa täre dena nija-cic-chaktira bala mäyä äkarñaëa chäòe haiyä durbala (Prema-vivarta 6.12) Mäyä is very strong, but when you get spiritual strength, cicchaktira bala – strength that is coming from cit-çakti, spiritual potency not material potency – then you are strong. Then you can

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru kick mäyä. Then mäyä will become weak and you will be strong because you are getting strength from the cit-çakti of Kåñëa. When you are strong, mäyä is weak, and you will have no more attraction towards mäyä. Then you can kick mäyä completely. You will no longer look back towards mäyä, but only look at Kåñëa.

Sādhu-saṅga Is Required sädhu-saìga kåñëa-näma’ – ei-mätra cäi saàsära jinite ära kona vastu näi (Prema-vivarta 6.13) Then you will develop a very strong desire, very strong greed. What for? How can I have only sädhu-saìga, no other saìga? Association of such a sädhu, hearing kåñëa-kathä from him and chanting Hare Kåñëa in his association will be your only desire. A very strong desire and a very strong greed you will develop. Nothing else. Sädhu-saìga kåñëa-näma’ ei-mätra cäi, saàsära jinite ära kona vastu näi, there is no other means to develop detachment from this material world, or to cut off this strong attachment towards this material world, towards mäyä, towards the material nature. In other words, to conquer mäyä there is no other means. The only means is to have sädhu-saìga and hear kåñëa-kathä from him and chant Hare Kåñëa in his association. No other means is there. We have such strong attachment. Even a great personality like Çukräcärya, who knows this, could not leave it. He was obliged. He was forced to go to his disciple and beg from him as stated in this verse.* However great a personality may be, sädhu-saìga is required to develop strong attachment to Kåñëa and complete detachment from this material world. * Çrémad-Bhägavatam 9.18.27 (See at the beginning of this lecture.)

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru Çukräcärya was not an ordinary person. He was the spiritual master of the king of the demons, Bali Mahäräja. But Bali Mahäräja was a mahäjana. He became a dear devotee of Kåñëa because he received the mercy of Prahläda Mahäräja, who was his grandfather. Because Çukräcärya was a gauëéka guru, a guru who has attachment to material nature and no attachment to Kåñëa, Bali Mahäräja rejected him as his guru. How can he be a guru?

Who Is a Real Sādhu? Then the question is: Who is a real sädhu? Kapiladeva has explained this in the Third Canto, mayy ananyena bhävena bhaktià kurvanti ye dåòhäm mat-kåte tyakta-karmäëas tyakta-svajana-bändhaväù “Such a sädhu engages in staunch devotional service to the Lord without deviation. For the sake of the Lord he renounces all other connections, such as family relationships and friendly acquaintances within the world.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.25.22)

He is a sädhu. For the sake of the Lord he renounces all material connections, all attachment to his home, hearth, wife, son, daughter, and this nasty body. He has kicked away his attachment to his so-called friends and relatives for the sake of the Lord, for rendering loving service to Lord Kåñëa. He, who has developed very strong attachment towards Kåñëa and has no temporary material attachment, which is the source of all suffering and unlimited distress, is a sädhu. He has kicked it completely; he has cut off all material relationships, svajana-bändhaväù, his kith and kin, family

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru members, wife, son, and daughters. No more relationships. He has established a perfect eternal relationship with Kåñëa and is day and night, 24-hours engrossed in loving service to Kåñëa. He is a sädhu. Without the mercy of such a sädhu, without the association of such a sädhu one cannot develop attachment towards Kåñëa. It is not possible. This is the only means. Then you will be able to surrender completely. Otherwise there is no question of surrender at all, but only pretension. Then you are a great pretender. “Yes, I have surrendered to a sädhu.” You are not surrendered to Kåñëa; you are surrendered to mäyä. You are a great mäyä-däsa who is saying, “Oh, I am surrendered to Kåñëa. I am krñëa-däsa.” It is only pretension, nothing else. If you really want to become krñëa-däsa then you have to kick mäyä completely and never look back. Question & Answers

How Can I Recognise a Sādhu? Devotee: Mahäräja? You should surrender to a bona fide spiritual master? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Definitely. Devotee: A gaura-priya-jana? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, yes, yes. Devotee: How can I recognise him? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: You cannot recognise him. You are a conditioned soul. You have four defects. Your senses are defective and you have no correct vision. So how can you recognise him? You cannot recognise a sädhu. You cannot see a sädhu through your eyes. It has been said that you can see a sädhu through the ears. Do not try to see a sädhu through the eyes, but see a sädhu

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru through the ears. That means hear what he says; hear kåñëa-kathä. He speaks cent-per-cent kåñëa-kathä. He never speaks anything else. He never tells any concocted story, only pure kåñëa-kathä. A sädhu presents mahäjanas, the previous äcäryas and çästra. A pure devotee is cent-per-cent surrendered. He can only speak kåñëa-kathä. Continuously, for hours and hours all together he will speak. With your eyes you cannot see a sädhu. This is one means. Cry before Kåñëa, because He knows. “Please give me a sädhu, Your pure devotee. I will surrender to him and then I will be able to serve You, O Kåñëa.” Dhruva, a five-year-old-boy, what did he do? He only cried for Kåñëa, isn’t it? Crying, crying he left home. His mother and relatives checked him, “Don’t go! Don’t go! It is a very dangerous forest. You are a mere boy, only five years old. There are so many dangers out there: fierce animals and demons. Great, great munis and åñis who undergo thousands and thousands of years of tapasyä cannot get the Supreme Lord. It is so difficult.” He did not listen to them. Instead he went out crying, “Where is the lotus-eyed Hari? Where is He? How can I get Him?” Then Lord Hari thought, “Oh, Dhruva is crying for Me, but he cannot come to Me directly. A guru is required. Without the help of a guru, My dear pure devotee, My bona fide representative, he cannot approach Me. Therefore He made an arrangement, and Närada Muni appeared.

Is it a Lap of Roses or a Lap of Thorns? Devotee: You were saying that if a devotee sits up the front, and gets chastised and exposed in public, he gets mercy. What if a devotee is hiding in the back does he get vaïcana, cheating? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Hiding in the back means he does

Only by the Mercy of a SÀdhu-guru not want that this strong attachment will be cut off. It is very good, yes, nice attachment to mäyä. Isn’t it? Therefore he is hiding at the back. If he goes to the front it may be cut off. He does not want it, so? He does not want his attachment to be cut off. He has developed very nice relationships. He chooses mäyä, the lap of mäyä. Is it very good? Is it a lap of roses or a lap of thorns that is only pricking, pricking, pricking? Although it is pricking, he still wants it, “Very nice. Yes, the pricking is very nice.” It is a thorny lap, bäbä! It is not a lap of roses, not soft roses. Still, he likes it. If he comes too close to the front, the guru has a sharp knife and will cut it off. Calo! “Oh, this will be cut off? No, no, no, no, no. It is very nice, let it be there.”

Unconditional Surrender Devotee: Gurudeva, what does it mean this conditional surrender? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: No conditional surrender: Unconditional surrender. No condition. “O Kåñëa, do this and give me that. Make this nice arrangement then I’ll surrender.” No. No conditions: Unconditional. Whatever situation you are in, then and there, at that moment completely surrender. “Whatever You want, You may do to me, märobi räkhobi-jo icchä tomärä, nityadäsa prati tuwä adhikärä.* As Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has admitted already, heno duñöa karma näi jaha ämi kori, näi sahasra sahasrabära hori. “O Lord Hari, I am such a rascal, a great materialistic person. I have done all nonsensical activities not once or twice, but thousands and thousands of times. All nasty abominable activities I have already done thousands and thousands of times. Nothing is left out. I am such a rascal. I deserve punishment. Yes. But I am Your däsa. You may inflict any punishment You * Slay me or protect me as You wish, for You have full authority over Your eternal servant. (Çaraëägati 3.3, Bhaktivinodha Öhäkura)

like upon me. You may kill me, or You may save me. Whatever You like You may do. I am Your eternal servant. You have the complete right to me. Whatever You like, märobi räkhobi-jo icchä tomärä, whatever Your sweet will is, You may do. If You want to kill me, kill me. I am not grumbling. If you want to protect me, let me survive. It is up to You” This is unconditional surrender.

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“T

guru

hose who have smeared the ointment of love on their eyes, premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena, who are endowed with bhakti-cakṣu, the vision of devotion, always see the all-beautiful Śyāmasundara Kṛṣṇa, within and without. You have to associate with such sādhu-guru-vaiṣṇavas. They have bound up Śyāmasundara Kṛṣṇa with the rope of love in their hearts. If you surrender unto such sādhu-guru, serve him, please him, and get his mercy then you will be endowed with that vision and you can see the beautiful form of Lord Śyāmasundara, within and without. This is the only means.”

TAT T VA V I C A R A P U B L I C AT I O N S