The most valuable treasure for a sādhaka • Śrī guru and the Vaiṣṇavas are our only true kin • A glimpse into the inner natures of the devotees and Bhagavān • Śaraṇāgati is not possible without sambandha-jñāna • Those who are constantly criticizing others fall down very quickly • Avoiding worship of himself on his vyāsa-pūjā • How to become free from the fatal flaw of aparādha
śrī śrī guru-gaurāṅgau jayataḥ
℅ Śrī Baṅkebihārī Dāsādhikārī
Jalpeswar Road, Subhash Nagar
P.O. Maynaguri (Jalpaiguri)
15/5/1978
Snehāspadāsu—
Mā Umā! It is meaningless to worry that the conditioned soul shall forever remain in a state of material bondage and will never endeavour to become liberated. While the living entity is in a materially conditioned state, all his thoughts, moods, and activities are full of mundane conceptions. To transcend this material, or mundane, state is the primary objective of performing sādhana-bhajana. Direct darśana of śrī guru and the Vaiṣṇavas and their instructions and directions are certainly the most valuable treasures for a sādhaka. One only receives such opportunity and good fortune as a result of spiritual merit accumulated over many, many lifetimes.
It is ideal if all our pride, distress, lamentation, and so on are centred solely around śrī guru and the Vaiṣṇavas, because they are our only true kinsmen, our real friends in the prison-house of this material world – “tava nija-jana parama-bāndhava, saṁsāra-kārāgāre[1].” Our so-called relatives and friends in this material world give no value to these things, but the most munificent, omniscient Vaiṣṇavas are accepting of our moods and emotions and most empathetic to the pain of others. When it comes to bringing conviction and determination to the sādhana-bhajana of the conditioned living entities, they are very adept and very clever.
The Vaiṣṇavas are ruthless and firmly avowed in the matter of rejecting unfavourable association. But the one-pointedness of a devotee who cries for them bitterly with a heart full of intense yearning controls them, and in such circumstances, the Vaiṣṇavas reveal their benevolent instincts. Therefore, in all conditions of life, they are the abode of our hope and trust, our shelter. Even Śrī Bhagavān may break His vows for the sake of His devotees. Those devotees are equally ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the bhaktas and Bhagavān. This is a glimpse into the inner natures of the bhaktas and Bhagavān and the pinnacle of love and affection.
Unless sambandha-jñāna (realization of one’s relationship with Śrī Bhagavān) is awakened in one’s heart, śaraṇāgati, or offering of oneself, is not possible. Only he who has linked his mind and heart to Śrī Hari, śrī guru, and the Vaiṣṇavas will feel an anxiety and eagerness in his heart to have their direct audience. Surely all these matters are realized only according to one’s qualification in sādhana-bhajana. Someday Śrī Bhagavān will mercifully bestow upon you this sort of qualification. Who can say how and on whom He will shower His mercy?
—— recently became engaged as a servant in the śrī maṭha there. The maṭha management did not engage him here. While thus engaged, he acted as he pleased and for his own self-interest. When a servant is unable to follow the instructions of śrī guru and the Vaiṣṇavas or is averse to following them without second thought, how can he possibly attain any welfare? “Gurur sevaka haya mānya āpanāra – the servants of guru deserve your utmost regard.” If one does not take this notion to heart, it is not possible to stay in the maṭha and render service there. Entanglement in worldly life is inevitable for such a person. Those who are constantly looking for faults in others and criticizing others fall down very quickly. For them, both this world and the next are destroyed.
On the kṛṣṇa-navamī[2] day of Pauṣa [December–January], I will not be staying in the Siliguri maṭha. There is a program to go preaching elsewhere at this time. I cannot write where exactly I will be staying when I go out preaching. I can only indicate a rough outline of the itinerary. The day that people will be able to offer due faith unto Śrī Bhagavān, instead of worshipping a person or group, is the day the path to their real welfare will broaden. These days, the craving for profit, adoration, and prestige has spread its all-devouring lolling tongue, compelling the conditioned living entities to misappropriate Śrī Bhagavān’s seat. Śūnyavādīs (nihilists), nirviśeṣa-brahmavādīs (impersonalists), cid-jaḍa-samanvaya-vādīs (“spirit-matter-synthesis-ists”), jīva-brahmaika-vādīs (monists), and pañcopāsakīs (worshippers of the five major Hindu deities) all tote the flag of atheism. While pretending to serve Śrī Bhagavān, they are busy trying to occupy His position. Therefore, my exclusive desire is that śrī guru and Vaiṣṇavas are glorified, that their divine glories are broadcast everywhere. If that happens, then the whole world can find auspiciousness.
In the realm of spiritual practice, aparādha is a fatal flaw and defect. One must very carefully and thoroughly abandon all offences to the Lord’s holy name and His transcendental abode, and also offences made while rendering service. But trying to refrain from such offences within a short period of time is not easy. We have to keep praying to Śrī Nāma Prabhu and to śrī dhāma to become free from offences. In that way, we can reside in śrī dhāma and chant śrī nāma. Only by the dust of the lotus feet of śrī guru and Vaiṣṇavas and by their causeless mercy do we become established at a level of actual qualification. In the realm of bhajana, material qualifications are useless and breed conceit.
My children are desirous of having my darśana. Are you also among them? A loving father always thinks of his children’s well-being. Even if the father stays very far away, he can bestow auspiciousness upon his children. This too is a matter of experience. Know that you have my affectionate blessings. Iti—
Your eternal well-wisher,
Śrī Bhaktivedānta Vāmana
[1] Ohe! Premera Ṭhākura Gorā (6)
[2] Pauṣa kṛṣṇa-navamī is Śrīla Mahārāja’s appearance day
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