Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's instructions from Giriraja Swami

[Guest guest]

For all devotees especially temple residents like brahmacaries and

sannyasis.

 

Giriraja Swami wrote:

 

Here are some nice instructions from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

about hari-katha and vaisnava-seva:

 

"All the residents of the math should always be engaged in the service of

Sri Hari, Guru, and Vaisnava. They should always be engaged in hearing

hari-katha and discussing hari-katha. If one becomes averse to hari-katha

and hari-seva then one will again be entangled by one's material desires.

Then one's time will be spent in gossiping, criticizing others, fighting

with others and gratifying one's senses. If the residents of the math do

not understand that vaisnava-seva is the most beneficial thing, then they

will not make progress in the realm of devotion. One has to cultivate one's

Krsna consciousness by sincerely serving the Vaisnavas and by endeavoring to

please the Vaisnavas with body, mind and soul.

 

"'By the petition of a Vaisnava, merciful Krsna will give His mercy to this

sinful soul' - this we have to remember all the time.

 

"If a Godbrother falls from the platform of service to Hari, Guru, and

Vaisnava, then you should think that your own brother is falling down. Then

you have to openly advise him about hari-bhajana and nicely make him

understand the situation. Sing the beneficial message of Guru and Gauranga

to him. If you merely comment on his downfall, then you are not his

well-wisher. You have to be merciful to him by talking to him about the

Lord. By doing this you will benefit yourself as well as him, and your goal

of living in the math will be accomplished. We are living together to help

each other serve the Lord.

 

"We will not live in this world very long. If we can die while continuously

doing hari-kirtana, then our birth will be successful. We have not come to

this world to be carpenters, to deal with wood and stone. We are only

carriers of Sri Caitanyadeva."

 

Thank you.

 

Hare Krishna.

 

Your servant,

Giriraj Swami