Tattva-viveka
Words from Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Vrindaranya Dasi - December 30, 2004 11:42 pm
Here are some powerful instructions from Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Today is his divine disappearance day.
Message of His Divine Grace
These instructions were given in Bengali by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada to his disciples shortly before his departure from this world. They have been translated into English by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
I have most probably troubled the minds of many people. Some of them may even think that I was their enemy, only because I was obliged to speak plain truth about service and devotion towards the Absolute Godhead. I have given them all these troubles so that they might turn their faces towards the Personality of Godhead, without any desire for gain, and with unalloyed devotion. I hope someday or other they may properly understand me.
I advise all to preach the teachings of Rupa-Raghunatha (disciples of Lord Caitanya) with all your energy and resources. Our ultimate goal is to become the dust of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Rupa and Raghunatha Goswamins. You should all work conjointly under the guidance of your spiritual master, with a view to serve the Absolute Knowledge, the Personality of Godhead. You should live somehow or other, without any quarrel in this mortal world, only for the service of Godhead. Please do not give up the service of Godhead in spite of all dangers, all criticisms, and all discomforts. Do not be disappointed that most people in the world do not serve the Personality of Godhead. Do not give up your own service, which is your everything and all, neither reject the process of chanting and hearing the transcendental Holy Name of Godhead. You should always chant the transcendental Name of Godhead with patience and forbearance like a tree, and humility like that of a straw.
We wish that this mass of our body of flesh and blood may be sacrificed at the altar of preaching the sankirtan movement (congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Godhead) propagated by Lord Caitanya. We are not desirous of becoming a hero of work, or a reformer of religion, but our reality may be identified with the dust of the Lotus Feet of Sri Rupa and Raghunatha, for that is our everything. The flow of the transcendental tide of the attraction of devotion will never be blocked, and you, with all your energy, should devote yourselves to fulfilling the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.We should have no other desire whatsoever. There are many amongst you who are well qualified and able workers.
There are certainly many difficulties while we are in this mortal world, but it is not our business simply to be overwhelmed with those difficulties, or to try to overcome them. We must know even during the duration of our present life, as to what we shall gain after overcoming all those difficulties of life, and what shall be the mode of our permanent existence. We must make an adjustment of all things that evoke our love and hatred, and for those that we want and do not want. Attachment and detachment of this mortal world will engage us more and more as we become farther and farther from the Lotus Feet of Sri Krsna. When we are able to transcend the position of attachments and detachments of this mortal world, and be attracted to the Holy Name of Godhead, it is only then that we can understand the import of the transcendental service of Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.
At the first instance the subject Krsna is startling and perplexing to us. [but]Everyone who is called by the name ‘man’ is more or less struggling, knowingly or unknowingly, to eliminate those invading elements that are baffling our conception of eternal need. It is our only duty to enter into the kingdom of eternal need.
We have no love or hatred for anyone in this world. All arrangements made in this world are but temporary. There is, therefore, unavoidable necessity for that ultimate need for everyone in this world. You should attain the transcendental loving service of the objective. Being situated in concerted action for that one aim, let there be a constant flow of the ideas and thoughts as conceived by Rupa Goswami and his followers. We shall not at any time show our slightest dejection for the seven tongued sankirtan movement. If we have undaunted faith in it we shall only then achieve all perfections. You should all therefore preach with fearlessness and with utmost energy the message of Rupa and Raghunatha under the guidance of the followers of Sri Rupa.
NrsinghaDas - December 31, 2004 4:54 pm
Could someone explain what this section means...
We shall not at any time show our slightest dejection for the seven tongued sankirtan movement.
Citta Hari Dasa - December 31, 2004 6:25 pm
The seven tongues refers to the 'seven-tongued flame of purification,' i.e., the seven effects of the chanting of Krsna nama as described in Siksastakam 1.
I think what Saraswati Thakura is saying is that we must have deep regard for the process of chanting that can have such a comprehesive effect on our lives and never deride or underestimate it in any way.
NrsinghaDas - January 4, 2005 11:58 pm
This is an inspiring picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Madangopal - January 5, 2005 12:12 am
One of my favorites:
The real sadhu makes us speak out what we keep concealed in our hearts. He
then applies the knife. The very word "sadhu" has no other meaning than
this. He stands in front of the block with the uplifted sacrificial knife
in his hand. The sensuous desires of men are like the goats. The sadhu
stands there to kill those desires by the merciful stroke of the keen edge
of the sacrificial knife in the form of unpleasant language. If the sadhu
turns into my flatterer then he does me harm; he becomes my enemy. If he
gives me flattery then we are led to the road that brings enjoyment but no
real well-being.
And another:
Worldly people possess a double nature. They express one kind of sentiment
but internally cherish a different purpose. Moreover, they want to
advertise this duplicity as a mark of liveralism or love of harmony. Those
who are unwilling to show any duplicity, wish to be frank and
straightforward, or in other words to exercise unambigiously the function
of the soul; such really sincere persons are called sectarian and orthodox
by those who pratice duplicity. We will cultivate the society only of those
who are straightforward. We will not keep company with any person who is
not so. We must by all means avoid bad company. We are advised to keep at a
distance of a hundred cubits from animals of the horned species. We should
preserve the same caution in regard to all insincere persons.
And ooh, just one last gem:
We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtan of the devotees can succeed.