His Divine Grace Çréla Bhakti Rakñaka Çrédhara Deva Goswämé Mahäräj
18th, 19th.8.81
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!
I'm eighty-six, only two months left until eighty-six ………………..How long I may stay is uncertain. It makes a necessity ………Prabhupada may keep me for more time ………………. he knows what to do.
Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!
I do not know why I am living, so many of the intimate friends they departed …………….
Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!
Devotee : Just as in our Guru Mahäräj's old age, Kåñëa gave him so much opportunity for preaching, so I think also…
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : And he did wonders, inconceivable wonders, inconceivably wonderful. In ten years of his last time, was devoted to produce a miracle, simply a miracle. Not only ordinary things, there may be many receivers, many persons to purchase, take it, may be customers of, things of the lower order. But things of the highest order, the purchasers their number will be very few.
sarva-dharmän parityajya , mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
[ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo, mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù]
["Totally abandoning all kinds of religion, surrender exclusively unto Me. I will liberate you from all kinds of sins, so do not despair."] [ Bhagavad-gétä , 18.66]
Purchasers of this principle of this type of surrender to the Lord is very rarely to be found in the world. And anyhow he has found you all, large numbers, so many, from the unexpected quarter.
And Prabhupäda [ÇrélaBhaktisiddhänta Saraswaté Öhäkura] of course mentioned before his departure, "We have made attempts in England and Europe, [but marking mooluk is left aside?]" In Gauòéya he wrote in his article, TheMarking Moolucs?] This was his expression, "[Marking Mooluk?] has not been approached yet. We have hope for [Marking Muluk?]"
And [Çréla A.C Bhaktivedänta] Swämé Mahäräj did that. Hare Kåñëa.
And his approach was a different one…………………………………….
ordinary approach to the masses. The people began this katha and chanting Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, Hare Kåñëa. And the public in the park they thought him to be one of the hippies and surrounded him. Acyutänanda was one of them. And then when they surrounded and began to talk in a ridiculous way he handed over the books to them. Acyutänanda said that, "After seeing Gétä and Bhägavat we were wonder struck, astounded. Oh, this hippy is not a hippy of ordinary type." Acyutänanda told that his father was fond of Gétä, Acyutänanda's father, but that was of Çaìkara School, so that could not satisfy him. "But when I got this Gétä, personal God, this touched me, my conscience……………." He was a graduate of the music college, or something like that, Acyutänanda, who came here first.
Devotee : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!
Nitäi Caitanya………………….. Nitäi Gaura Hari bol!
So, you have not taken anything, as yet?
Devotee : Yes, we have taken.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Taken something? You?
Devotee : Yes.
Devotees : Everyone. Yes. We have taken.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Nitäi Caitanya. Nitäi Caitanya.
After Jaya Tértha Mahäräja has left, no trace about him, no news from him?
Devotee : Not since I was in England. I met with him personally.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Oh. Why?
Devotee : Well in India you don't get news so much.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Oh.
Devotee : Such a long time.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : There was one gentleman, Pramana Swämé…
Devotees : Yes. Yeah.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : …the self-made ä cärya …
Devotee : Yeah.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : But he has got his hold and so many disciples he also came here..
Devotees : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : And he also expressed much satisfaction hearing from me.
Devotee : There is another self-made ä cärya also in Behar.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Who is he?
Devotee : Rädhä-Govinda.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Rädhä-Govinda. A sannyäsé ?
Devotee : He's a Godbrother, I don't think he's a sannyäsé , no.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : But he got twofold dékñä from [Çréla A.C Bhaktivedänta] Swämé Mahäräj?
Devotee : Yeah. Rädhä-Govinda.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : And another in Punjab, but he has gone.
Devotee : And there is another in South America, Viraha Prakash Swämé. He works with Pramana Swämé.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Oh, with Pramana Swämé.
Devotee : They have divided the country of Venezuela in half.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Amongst themselves.
Devotee : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : The zone has been divided in this way.
Devotee : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Hare Kåñëa. And Yaçodänanda Swämé, his previous name was [Some Bill?]
Devotee : No, I don't think so.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : But in Ananda Bhazaar it was mentioned one Yaçodänanda name one, and then Mr Bill, Mr Bill.
Devotee : He has a French name. He is a French-Canadian. So his name is [Yolander?]
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : But what we find the philosopher Mill, there is an empirical philosopher whose name was Mill, from England perhaps, atheistic philosopher, Mill, a noted philosopher. Mill, of the atheistic school, no-God school.
So what is necessary for your proper diet you must…
Devotee : Yes. Everything is being arranged.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : I think curd, potato and bread, that will suit you most and [keep a sounder?] You are generally accustomed to that sort of diet.
Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol!
Devotee : Mahäräj, yesterday, Govinda Mahäräj and I were speaking and we were talking about our Guru Mahäräj [Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swämé Mahäräj] as çaktyäveça-avatära.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Yes.
Devotee : And so he mentioned that you had said previously about Bäladeva, Nityanända Prabhu…
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Yes. That is the guru-tattva, generally guru-tattva is Bäladeva and Nityanända, in general. So for propaganda work They're in the highest office for propagation, generally. So I took it that ………………. Nityanända Prabhu had some special recognition from the section from which Swämé Mahäräj has come, special grace for that particular section, Nityanända. It is mentioned in the scripture we find. And [pajar gauranga…?]
Devotee : What section?
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : That [Subar Navanik?] They're the most favourite section of Nityanända Prabhu, it is mentioned in the çästra, Caitanya-Bhägavat. So I thought that Nityanända Prabhu's in charge of preaching about Mahäprabhu's glory. And so I took it that Nityanända Prabhu must have some special delegation in him in his last days, which helped him to inundate in such an inconceivable magnitude the whole of the world. But that does not mean that he was nothing before such delegated power came in him, that he was nothing. That delegation may come in a proper place. Just as in other çaktyäveça-avatäras the çakti accepts a particular place, and he'll not, anything and everything, an ordinary thing, must be proper to receive that. That is one thing.
Another, to preach, that when that delegation consideration has come, so without delegation he has no value his own, that is some wilful propaganda, and that will defeat its own object. What is that thing? Does it mean that one where the delegation will come should be some empty or some bad thing? This supposition is mischievous and that will, of those that will take out of my statement of delegation, they will be mischief for their own people…
Devotee : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : …by falsely propagating in this way, that that was his purpose. It will be very difficult to arouse faith in man, and this sort of statement will diminish the faith, will prepare the field of the atheists. So this is suicidal propagating that work. And sakhya-rasa is also not being neglected. [ Raghunätha] Däsa Goswämé, who is thought to be the highest, to hold the highest position of mädhurya-rasa, prayojana-äcärya, he himself says:
sakhyäya te mama namo 'stu namo 'stu nityam
däsyäya te mama raso 'stu raso 'stu satyam
[Çréla Raghunätha Däsa Goswämé, the greatest exponent of the faith of servitude to Çrématé Rädhäräëé, Rädhä-däsyam, wrote: "I won't allow myself to become fascinated by the proposal of the higher level service as a friend, sakhya. Rather, I shall tend always to do the lower service, däsya, the service of the servant. I shall not consider myself to be a high-class servitor and I shall always tend to go towards the lower class of service. But He may forcibly take me to a higher service - "No, you are no longer to serve there; now you must serve in this higher category." But I consider that I am not fit for that confidential service, my Lord. You may engage the higher servitors in Your confidential group, while I may serve in the lower level."] [Viläpa-kusamäïjali, 16]
What does it mean? Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Is it an intellectual thing, that we can pass resolution, we can pass remark in any way we like in our fashion? [ Raghunätha] Däsa Goswämé, he's supposed to be posted in the highest position of the prayojana-tattva, the äcärya of the prayojana, in mädhurya-rasa rädhä-däsya. He says that däsyäya te mama raso 'stu, and sakhyäya te mama namo 'stu. "I am trying to put, to show my reverence to the sakhya, and I want, I crave that my real earnestness may go for the däsya-rasa. Is it a thing to play."
Rädhäräëé Herself She wants that, "My attention is always to serve, but because Kåñëa wishes to enjoy Me He enjoys, but My mark, My ideal is always to serve Him." So service is [autocrat?] the çanta-rasa, the…
priyonam manayo rajan nevitar viseshey lakha
naigranyatha ramante sma gunar no karan hare?
This is çanta-rasa, in Bhägavatam.
ätmärämäç ca munayo , nirgranthä apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukéà bhaktim , ittham-bhüta guëo hariù
["Those sages who, being merged in the bliss of the spirit soul, are totally free from the binding knot of mental images - they too engage in the unmotivated service of Çré Kåñëa, the performer of marvellous deeds. This is but one of the qualities of the Supreme Lord Hari, who charms the entire world."] [Çrémad-Bhägavatam, 1.7.10]
These are examples of çanta-rasa. This is very rarely to be found. We must go to that place and then we should deal with things, so däsya just the opposite. The mädhurya-rasa, even Rädhäräëé Herself She says that, "Always My tendency is to serve Kåñëa, towards däsya-rasa, däsya-rasa." Then, what of däsya, then sakhya, sakhya-rasa is only a very small thing? What is this?
sakhyäya te mama namo 'stu namo 'stu [nityam
däsyäya te mama raso 'stu raso 'stu satyam ]
[Viläpa-kusamäïjali, 16]
"From a distance I want to show my respect to sakhya-rasa, and däsya-rasa I really want." That should be the tendency of a real devotee. And to disregard all these things, as they seem to play like a ball, play ball, all these things.
……..
Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Nitäi.
Devotee : So, as Govinda Mahäräj and I were discussing, he gave this one example of Vashu.
Devotee : [speaks Bengali?……………………………………………………………….]
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : In Mahäprabhu also we find, sometimes, Mahäprabhu Himself, [there was such avesh?] Sometimes by the influence of Bäladeva, "Give Me wine, give Me wine," in Caitanya-Bhägavat we find that Mahäprabhu sometimes He showed different inspired stages. When He was captured by the feeling of Bäladeva, then He says, "Give Me wine, give Me wine, give Me wine." They gave some Ganges water. "You take it." Sometimes even He was inspired with the feeling of Pradyumna.
sekha pran jaya nityananda prabhu kari bap krsna rakhi ven pran
eve pran tri bole jata balaram?
Mahäprabhu inspired by the feeling of Pradyumna is uttering like a madman. "I can't stand. I can't take rest from dancing mood. Some inspired power is making Me dance like a madman, I have gone, I can't take rest." In this way He says.
bap krsna rakhi ven pran?
"By the inspiration of Kåñëa anyhow I was saved. But when inspiration has come from Balaräma, now I am gone, I can't contain Myself about that thing, but I feel too tired."
That was His, that sort of feeling of maybe Bäladeva, yata balaräma. He's………..elder brother or father, so Pradyumna, yata ei balaräma. So Mahäprabhu is attacked by that feeling of Pradyumna - abhimäna, and He says, yata balaräma, His honest feeling in this way. So it is Caitanya comes in different times for different purpose. Even Mahäprabhu Himself had so many inspirations of different types coming to Him and going away. These are the transcendental laws, or will of the Lord, in other words.
So çaktyäveça , it is not a thing for the play of the child, for the children, childish play, that çaktyäveça. Very belittled and very mortified that the remark çaktyäveça that have been used in such a mean way, çaktyäveça, a childish thing. Hare Kåñëa. Hare Kåñëa.
And däsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, that is always very fit, and different degree and weakness, anything at our sweet will. A poor conception of the real reality, that can make us audacious to pass such remark. The love of power, the love of power is making mad to take any path or the other. But that will be suicidal, that will dig its own grave.
Devotee : ……………………?
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : That is clear that our sampradäya, rüpänugasampradäya, and that sampradäya, that mantram, the mantram, all show that it is wedded to mädhurya-rasa, the adi-mantra, and the selection was coming to Prabhupäda, rüpänuga. The Guru-paramparä, all rüpänuga, mädhurya-rasa, but for the propaganda work some temporary delegation of the time being to preach, to inundate the whole country, that came in my mind. They may not care for that, they may not care. It is my consideration, I gave it out. If anyone may think in that way they may do, however it is. I am not forcing it towards the unwilling. It is my special estimation that something might have happened.
When I came to take my shelter here I thought that I am going to take my permanent shelter in Navadwépa Dhäma, but Navadwépa Dhämeçvara is Nityanända Prabhu. So I must go to Him first. Not the place of Mahäprabhu, I went to Ekacakra first, to seek His permission, that, "I like to pass the last days of my life in Navadwépa Dhäma. Please, You give permission, otherwise my attempt will be futile." So I went to Him and invoked for His permission, and as if with His permission I came and settled here. Dhämeçvara Prabhu. Though my aspiration is innately towards mädhurya-rasa, but still I went to Nityanända Prabhu to give me admission here, that the rest of my life I may pass.
heno nitäi vine bhäi rädhä kåñëa päite näi
By the grace of Nityanända we shall get the grace of Mahäprabhu. And by the grace of Mahäprabhu we can enter into mädhurya-rasa and Rädhäräëé, all these things. That is our way chalked out by our spiritual master. We have got great regard for that.
Hare Kåñëa. Hare Kåñëa.
Devotee : Sometimes I've heard it said that if you similarly, if you want to get the mercy of Nityanända Prabhu you should approach the Jagäi and Mädhäi.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Ha, ha, ha, ha. The deliverance of Jagäi and Mädhäi, that is also who have no acära, no vicära , neither real conception of divinity, nor any holy practices, pure practices. And that was all delivered in a great number. And there it attracts after things of the presence of Nityanända Prabhu. Nityanända Prabhu's presence, why? There were so many who had no such pure acära and vicära, they were taken direct to the higher position. So the potency, the great mercy of Nityanända is to be located there. So what I have said that is also corroborated, as you say, is it not?
Devotee : Yes.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : He himself told me, Swämé Mahäräj, that, "I have taken them from a country where no question of any food restriction, or consideration of purity or impurity of food, nothing of the kind, and also that of practice. So from that we have come then to you all. So much I have done and you must give attention to them properly. You must not be unmindful to them." Because he told me that I can't deny, not only once but several times he repeated this to me, that, "I have done so much and you must be sympathetic to them. They are recruited from such lands. They have no consideration of all these things." So from Nityänanda, this is shown that Nityänanda's presence in him. Anyhow, it was suggested in my mind, they may take or not take, it doesn't matter what to do? I am innocent and sincere in my remark in that way as I have conjectured [I told them?]
Hare Kåñëa. Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Gaura Hari bol! Nitäi.
Devotee : Mahäräj, sometimes our Guru Mahäräj used to chant the verse,
çré caitanya mano'bhéñöaà , stäpithaà yena bhütale
svayaà rüpa kadä mahyaà , dadäti sva-pandäntikaà
[Narottama däsa Öhäkura said: "O when will Çréla Rüpa Goswämé, who has firmly established in this world, the pure devotional teachings and principles of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and thus fulfilled His cherished desires, ever bless me with eternal shelter of his lotus feet?"]
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Yes.
Devotee : So, can you explain what that verse means?
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Yes. Çré caitanya mano'bhéñöaà, stäpithaà yena bhütale, the real purport of Çré Caitanyadeva was established by whom, in this earth? He's my Gurudeva. Çré caitanya mano'bhéñöaà, what Çré Caitanyadeva wanted to do in this earth, mano'bhéñöaà, he reminded to do in this earth. Stäpithaà yena bhütale, and that was propagated in this world. What Çré Caitanya willed, and that was translated into action in this world by whom? That is Gurudeva.
mano sarvjande svayaà rüpa?
Svayam-r ü pa , this is in the line of mädhurya-rasa. Svayam-r ü pa , Rüpa Goswämé, svayam-rü pa ,
çré caitanya mano'bhéñöaà , stäpithaà yena bhütale
svayaà rüpa kadä mahyaà , dadäti sva-pandäntikaà
"When," about that Rüpa Goswämé, "will take me, will attract me near his feet?" That is the literal meaning. "What Caitanydeva wanted to do, that has been done by Rüpa Goswämé. And when that fortunate day will come when he will attract me near his feet, Rüpa Goswämé." The svayaà rüpa, that does not mean svayaà rüpa Bhagavän Kåñëa.
[Bengali conversation……………………………………………………………………?]
Devotee : Who composed that verse?
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Who composed? As far as I remember by Narottama Öhäkura.
Govinda Mahäräja says that the reading is not svayaà rüpa, Rüpa Himself, svayaà rüpa means Rüpa Himself, but svayaà rüpa, this rüpa, that rüpa, that is sva-ayaà rüpa, that rüpa. Çré caitanya mano'bhéñöaà, stäpithaà yena bhütale, that rüpa who has installed here the water desired by Çré Caitanyadeva, when such rüpa will take me near his feet, draw me to take my position near his feet." That is the verse.
[Bengali conversation……………………………………………Gaudiya Kanthahara]
anarpita-caréà cirät karuëayävatérëaù kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasäà sva-bhakti-çriyam
hariù puraöa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandépitaù
sadä hådaya-kandare sphuratu vaù çacé-nandanaù
["May that Lord, who is known as the son of Çrématé Çacédevé, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in this age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service."] [ Caitanya-caritämåta , Ädi-lélä, 1.4]
Nityänanda's beauty is to take ordinary persons to Gauräìga. And Gauräìga came to take them to Braja lélä . Yathä yathä gaura: Nityänanda Prabhu preached about Gauräìga. "You could not reach so high, you just come to Gauräìga. That will be the easy thing." Anyhow He tried His best to take persons to the feet of Gauräìga. "And then you will get:
yathä yathä gaura padäravinde , vindeta bhaktià kåta puëya räçiù
tathä tathot sarpati hådy akasmät , rädhä padämbhoja sudhämbhu-räçiù
[Prabodhänanda Saraswaté Öhäkura says: "As much as we devote ourselves to the lotus feet of Çré Gauräìga, we will automatically achieve the nectarine service of Çrématé Rädhäräëé in Våndävana. An investment in Navadwépa Dhäma will automatically take one to Våndävana. How one will be carried there will be unknown to him. But those who have good fortune invest everything in the service of Gauräìga. If they do that, they will find that everything has automatically been offered to the divine feet of Çrématé Rädhäräëé. She will accept them in Her confidential service and give them engagement, saying: "Oh, you have a good recommendation from Navadwépa; I immediately appoint you to this service."] [Caitanya-Candrämåta, 88]
Automatically you'll be led to Rädhäräëé, Prabodhänanda says. Mahäprabhu asked Nityänanda Prabhu, "Go and preach about Kåñëa in Gauda-deça, Bengal." But Nityänanda Prabhu came and He began to preach about Çré Caitanyadeva, not Kåñëa direct, shortcut. "Anyhow come to Gauräìga and the rest Gauräìga will see for you."
Devotee : Mahäräj, in Caitanya-Bhägavat it says that in Lord Caitanya's [sankyam?] there were twelve persons with Him, twelve [pacharis?]
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Where?
Devotee : [Dvadasta charis?] with Nityänanda Prabhu.
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : Dvadas Gopal, they were assistants, there Dvadas Gopal in Braja. Nityänanda as Bäladeva and other çakhya-rasa group in Våndävana, they came here and they're know as Dvadas Gopal, twelve intimate friends of Nityänanda or Bäladeva. With their help Nityänanda began to preach here.
Devotee : Mahäräj, where is that verse däsyäya te mama raso 'stu ?
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : It may be Viläpa-kusamäïjali [16] perhaps of Çréla Raghunätha Däsa Goswämé. This verse is made by Raghunätha Däsa.
sakhyäya te mama namo 'stu namo 'stu nityam
däsyäya te mama raso 'stu raso 'stu satyam
"I am not up to mark of serving the Lord in the confidential way of çakhya. That is higher. That is too much for me. My aspiration is anyhow to get a position amongst the servants of the Lord. I pray that my real, my sincere tendency be towards the service of a servant, and never to such a higher degree as to render confidential service to Him. I have no such audacity." So çakhya-rasa he says, "Who is he?" Who is considered to be the ä cärya of the highest mädhurya-rasa, the prayojana- äcärya? That's Raghunätha Däsa Goswämé, he says that, "I pray that I may not have the audacity to come into the confidential service of Kåñëa. But I pray that my sincere flow may go to the ordinary servant group, that I pray, raso 'stu satyam, that my attraction really may go to there in the lowest rank."
Devotee : Yes. And Mahäräj, Uddhava, this,
äsä maho caraëa-renu-juñäm aham syäm
våndävane kim api gulma-latauñadhénäm
yä dustyajaà svajanam ärya-pathaà ca hitvä
bhejur mukunda-padavéà çrutibhir vimågyäm
["The gopés of Våndävana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to renounce, and they have sacrificed even their religious principles to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kåñëa, which are sought after by even the Vedas. O grant me the fortune to be born as a blade of grass in Våndävana, so that I may take the dust of those great souls upon my head."]
[Çrémad-Bhägavatam, 10.47.61]
So he's praying, gulma, to be like a creeper, or…
Çréla B.R. Çrédhara Swämé : He aspires after a birth of a creeper or shrub in Våndävana so that automatically the feet-dust of the gopés may come over them.
äsä maho caraëa-renu-juñäm aham syäm
våndävane kim api gulma-latauñadhénäm
yä dustyajaà svajanam ärya-pathaà ca hitvä
bhejur mukunda-padavéà çrutibhir vimågyäm
Gaura Hari bol! Nitäi Caitanya. [Bengali……………………]
End of side A, 18 th, 19 th.8.81