Lesson

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We should try to always obey Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta and all

of Srila Rupa Gosvami's books. They are not actually books, neither are they

mythologies. They are Krsna Himself, and in some cases they are more than

Krsna. Just as Krsna’s name is more powerful than He Himself because He has

invested all His power in it, He has also invested all His power in Srimad

Bhagavatam.

 

When the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu tried to convince Him to meet

with King Prataparudra, He rejected their proposal:

 

niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya

param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya

sandarsanam visayiëam atha yositam ca

ha hanta hanta visa-bhaksanato' py asadhu

 

"Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, 'Alas,

for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and

engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without material

motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing a

woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison

willingly.'"

 

This verse is meant for one who is niskincana, one who has given up material

possessions and already has a taste for harinama and harikatha. If such a

person who has an ambition to cross over the material ocean sees any

materialistic person or a woman in the mood of enjoyment, this is more

dangerous than deadly poison. That aspiring devotee has promised, "I must

leave sense gratification," and therefore this verse and this instruction

has been given for his benefit.

 

If one says, "I make no distinction between ladies and men," such a person

is foolish. If one is sensitive to pain when a needle is stuck into his

skin, then how, at that stage, can he feel that someone else is neither a

lady nor a man? Such a person simply cheats himself or herself.

 

This instruction has also been given in relation to Narada Rsi and Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's own associate, Chota Haridasa. [Narada and Chota

Haridasa are associates and therefore can never come under the influence of

lust; but they did so apparently in order to show us that even if we think

we are advanced we should be careful.] Therefore you should not take it

lightly. If you want to cross over the ocean of birth and death, take this

verse seriously.

 

Guru is he who can take all the moods of the disciple, change them, and

offer them unto the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna. He'll take away all

worldly attachments and transform them into attachment for Radha-Krsna. A

bona fide guru does not think, "I'm the enjoyer." He thinks, "Radha and

Krsna are the enjoyers." A guru can change the disciple's material moods

into the moods of service of Radha and Krsna, and he himself has no enjoying

mood.

 

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