last message of Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati

[Guest guest]

(The following, from the first ever BTG in 1944, is Srila Prabhupada's

rendition of words spoken by his spiritual master. If anyone has a

translation in more modern English, kindly send it to me. Thankyou and Hare

Krishna!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

His Divine Grace Sree Sreemad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Moharaj

the celebrated Acharya (Spiritual Head) of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas spoke the

following few lines as His Message just a few days (23rd December, 1936)

before His passing away from this mortal world.

 

"I have most probably given many people troubles in the mind. Some of them

might have thought about me that I am their enemy because I was obliged to

speak the plain truth for service and devotion towards the Absolute Godhead.

I have given them all those troubles only for the reason that they may turn

their face towards the Personality of Godhead without any desire for gain

and with unalloyed devotion. I hope some day or other they may understand me

rightly."

 

"I advise all to preach the teachings of Rupa-Raghunath (disciples of Lord

Chaitanya) with all energy and resources. Our ultimate goal shall be to

become the dust of the lotus feet of Sree Sree Rupa and Raghunath 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. Do not please give up the service of Godhead in

spite of all dangers, all criticisms and all discomforts. Do not be

disappointed for 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 of the transcendental

Holy Name of Godhead. You should always chant the transcendental Name of

Godhead with patience and forbearance like a tree and humbleness like a

straw."

 

"We wish that this mass of our body of flesh and blood may be sacrificed at

the altar of preaching the Samkirtan Movement (congregational chanting of

the Holy Name of Godhead) propagated by Lord Chaitanya. 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 Sree Rupa and Raghunath for

that is our everything. The flow of the transcendental tide of the

attraction of devotion will never be blocked, and you with your all energy

shall devote yourself for fulfilling the desire of Sreela Bhakti Vinode

Thakur. There are many amongst you who are well qualified and able workers.

We have no other desire whatsoever."

 

"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 only. 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 farthest

from the Lotus Feet of Sree Krishna. When we are able to transcend the

position of attachments and detachments of this mortal world and be

attracted with the Holy Name of Godhead, it is then only we can understand

the import of the transcendental service of Sree Krishna the Personality of

Godhead. At the first instance the subject Krishna is startling and

perplexing to us. Every one who is called by the name 'man' is more or less

struggling knowingly or unknowingly to eliminate those invading elements

what 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 any one in this world. All arrangements made

in this world are but temporary. There is, therefore, unavoidable necessity

for that ultimate need for every one 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 "Samkirtan"

movement. If we have undaunted faith in it we shall then only achieve all

perfections. You should all therefore preach with fearlessness and with

utmost energy the message of Rupa and Raghunath under the guidance of the

followers of Sree Rupa."

 

(Translated from Bengali by the Editor)