We must weep for Krishna to attract His mercy

[Guest guest]

The following is an excerpt from the chapter " What is Bhakti? " in the

book " A Taste of Transcendence " by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha

Maharaj. For more information about this book,

 

The great Vaisnava saint, Vamsi dasa Babaji Maharaja, was no ordinary

sadhu. Outwardly, he had his advent in what is now known as

Bangladesh, in Majidpur Village, Maimansingh district, near Jamalpur.

But later, he came to Navadvipa-dhama, accepted the babaji order and

performed his bhajana under a tree. The order of sannyasa is given

for preaching, but a babaji will perform bhajana in a holy, secluded

place. A babaji will not go outside for pracara (preaching). Many

people would come to Babaji Maharaja and offer to build him a

cottage, but he chose to remain always beneath a banyan tree. He

would not move from there. He was surcharged with krsna-prema. He was

a very tall figure. He never shaved, but remained like a madman. Many

people would offer him various things, but he would pay them no

attention. Whatever he might receive, he would distribute to others.

He was an anchorite. Nobody could understand his behavior. He had

only two big cloth bags---he had no temple. In one cloth bag was

Gaura-Nitai and, in the other, Radha-Krsna. Sometimes, he would take

the Deities out and perform puja. So, is his bhakti less because he

had just small Deities, and ours greater because we have a big

temple? Gaura-Nityananda were most satisfied by his service. Our

Parampujyapada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to bow down to

him from a distance. He prohibited his disciples from visiting Babaji

Maharaja. His disciples asked, " Shall we not have darsana of the

sadhus? " But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura replied, " You

will not be able to understand his behavior and you will commit

offenses. He is not within this world, but is moving in the

transcendental realm. If I commit an offense, it will be anti-

devotional. For this reason, I am bowing down to him from a distance.

Only a suddha bhakta can understand his wonderful behavior. An

ordinary novice of bhajana will be unable to understand, so he should

not go there. Babaji Maharaja is always surcharged with krsna-prema! "

 

There was a person from Navadvipa-dhama who used to come to Babaji

Maharaja. One day, he thought, " I have the desire to obtain the

Supreme Lord. How can I get Bhagavan? " He was only murmuring,

speaking to himself, so Babaji Maharaja did not reply. This person

came back repeatedly to see Babaji Maharaja. Finally, one day, he

approached Maharaja directly.

 

" What do you want? " Babaji Maharaja asked him.

 

" I want to see Bhagavan, " the man said.

 

Babaji Maharaja replied with only one word: " Weep! "

 

We might supply so much scriptural evidence to try to explain, in so

many ways, how to obtain the Supreme Lord, but what did Vamsi dasa

Babaji Maharaja say? " Weep for Him! " If you can weep for Him, then

you can get Him. If there is want for Him, then He will come. We are

uttering His Names, but we do not want Him. So, we are uttering the

Names of Krsna--- " hare krsna, hare krsna, krsna krsna, hare hare,

krsna rama, hare rama, rama rama, hare hare " ---and Krsna appears

before us. He says to us, " Come along! "

 

We say to Him, " No, I cannot go now. Right now I require a million

dollars to save my business. I have my children. I have just bought a

building. I cannot go now. "

 

" So, why have you called Me? " Krsna asks.

 

" I have called you to give me a million dollars, " we reply. " Remove

my difficulties. I do not have time to go now. "

 

From where are we uttering the Name? Not from the heart! We are

chanting, " hare krsna " but, if Krsna were to come, we would be unable

to go.