Quote from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

[Guest guest]

When thinking that I was a big scholar of mathematics and philosophy, by my

good fortune I got the darsana of the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva. He ignored

everything that was previously appreciated in me-my truthfulness, my moral

and pious life, and my scholarship-knowing them to be of little value. When

I saw that he ignored whatever was good in me, I realized how good he

himself must be, he who could ignore so many "good qualities" in me. What

inconceivable wealth there was in him. Being ignored by him, I realized that

there was no one more fallen than me, more contemptible than me, and that

this was my real identity. This great soul did not consider the things that

I thought of as highly desirable, such as scholarship and pure moral

character, to have any value. I realized that this great personality

possessed priceless wealth within him. So I prayed humbly and sincerely to

the Supreme Lord for his mercy. Later, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I

realized that without receiving the mercy of this great saint and serving

him, nothing good could happen to me. When I realized that and acted

accordingly, by getting the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva and by

receiving his unlimited causeless mercy I considered my life fulfilled.

I have understood that if the people of the world do not receive the same

jolt that I received from my gurudeva, then their consciousness will not

awaken. Therefore I am telling everyone, 'I am more foolish than anyone else

in the world. Please, all of you, do not be foolish like me. Do not live

your life within the limitation of calculating consciousness. Please enter

the realm of the unlimited, and you will become very wealthy. I am only

asking you to accept that which I have understood, by the causeless mercy of

the Supreme Lord, to be supremely beneficial.'

 

 

What is the reference for this quote from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati?