MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

NOVEMBER 2017

Visiting Sri Midnapore Math (15 photographs, 1 Mb | October 2017)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj graces the devotees granting them his darshan as well as the nourishing Hari-katha while a recent visit to the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Midnapore (Medinipur).

Temple Management Scheme (2)
"We have 24 hours—how many hours do we work for our own self and how many hours do we work for our Guru, for the Mission and the Lord? I am not asking for anything, what I am telling to everybody is please do in this way, please make Gurudev's Mission..."
• Download (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 14 August 2011)

Bestowing Sannyas Order (5 photographs, 0.3 Mb | 2 November 2017)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj confers the sannyas order onto Sripad Bhakti Hriday Mahayogi Maharaj (formerly Kanai Lala Prabhu from London) manifesting a new channel of service to the Deities, devotees, and the Mission.

Source of Joy
"The day when we hear some sound from Vaishnavs is a very good day for us, that is our life. I feel if I hear from great devotees, great Vaishnavs, senior devotees like you, it increases my devotional activities. That is my good luck."
• Download (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 14 August 2011)

Sravan-Kirtan: Heart of Preaching Movement
"I want to make leaders so that they can preach and continue Gurudev's Mission. If they continue their practising life properly, they can do that. Through the good association of the devotees like you all, we get energy, enthusiasm, and if we preach and practise through sravan-kirtan, that will be even more beneficial for our life."
• Download (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 14 August 2011)

Best Servitor
"If somebody is far, a few thousand kilometres away, but they follow Gurudev's instruction, they are the best servitors. My only request to you is preach. Whoever you meet, you can tell them one-two words about the Lord, about spiritual matter."
• Download (1 Mb, 3 min | 14 August 2011)

My Joy and Happiness
"It is my great happiness that you come to the centre every day, make programmes and preach. It gives me joy and happiness to see that so many devotees are there. I know that if I can serve you and make you happy, then I will also make my Guru happy."
• Download (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 14 October 2013)

Actions Speak Louder Than Words
"If you serve your Guru with full surrender, practising sravanam, kirtanam, etc., then you have nothing to worry about. I can tell you one story, it explains what faith is very nicely... It is necessary to be a sincere seeker, to have chastity for your spiritual life."
• Download (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 14 October 2013)

Entering Exclusive Devotional Mood
"To err is human—there is always something wrong and some correction is necessary. Sometimes you wonder whether what you are doing is good or done properly, but the main thing is that you must follow the instruction of your Guru. Do not think about the result."
• Download (1 Mb, 3 min | 14 October 2013)

Good Association: Root of Devotion
"Good association always brings good activities, good and fresh mind. A sadhu, a Guru can do anything—they can even turn a bad person into a good person, into a good devotee. Through good association your mind will become clean, you will become soft-hearted."
• Download (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 14 October 2013)

Honouring Maha-Prasad
"Prasad has so much power... Always take prasad—being vegetarian cannot make you a pure devotee, only prasad can make you a good, pure devotee. And you do not only take prasad, but you must honour maha-prasad."
• Download (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 14 October 2013)

Hoarding Hazard
"If you not donate the knowledge you have, if you do not use the money you have for the service to Guru and Vaishnavs, it will make a problem for you later. This is what Gurudev teaches us. When money comes to you for the service to the temple, you must use that money for the service to the temple, otherwise that money will make a problem for you."
• Download (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 16 October 2011)

It Is All About Consciousness
"If you like family life, it is not a problem, but if you stay in a family life, make your family Krishna's family. You are working, but you must work for the Deities, for the devotees. That is life, and that will be my happiness if you can live in this way."
• Download (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 16 October 2011)

Run After Mahaprabhu
"'When will that day come?'—it is not necessary to show anything, it is necessary to feel it only in your heart and soul. You can show it through love and affection—keep devotees in your heart and devotees should keep you in their hearts."
• Download (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 16 October 2011)

— · Sri Vyasa Puja Invitation · — Dear Godbrothers and Sisters, Devotees and Friends, This year, the supremely auspicious day of the divine advent of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Ananta-sri-vibhusita Paramahamsa-kula-chudamani Jagad-Guru Sri Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj manifests on a Tuesday, 5 December 2017. On this day, the members of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, under the guidance and in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of the worshippable President-Acharya, Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, are holding a special programme of worship, revered offerings, kirtan, lectures, glorification of Sri Guru-Vaishnav, prasad distribution, as well as many other devotional activities. We shall feel obliged to have the kind company of you and your friends for this celebration to enhance this great festival at our centres in India, as well as branches worldwide.

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Practise and Preach—Properly
"You must give more importance to sankirtan. Our problem is that we do not practise properly. We are fortunate souls—we have got initiation from Gurudev, we received the seed of devotion, but we are not taking proper care of it..."
• Download (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 19 November 2011)

Devotion: It Is About Mood
"Service mood means acting under the guidance of your Gurudev—you must follow what Gurudev says. It is not necessary to think about anything else. 'I do not know what will be good for me, I will follow what Gurudev says'—that is called service."
• Download (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 19 November 2011)

Preach by Example
"If I do not use this body for service to my Guru, then it is not necessary to keep this human body, I can easily live in a cow's body, a dog's body or a cat's body then. Practise properly, then you will be perfect. Wherever you live, you must maintain your practising life. Do not forget your practising life!"
• Download (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 19 November 2011)

Srestharyya Sripad Jagabandhu Das Adhikari (From The Harmonist)
"THE day before the close of the spiritual Exhibition that had been organised in the spacious compound of the Gaudiya-Math, which function formed the concluding, activity of the long series of the festivities of the auspicious Inauguration of the New Buildings of the Math, Srestharyya Sripad Jagabandhu Das Adhikari Bhaktiranjan, the donor and architect of those superb Buildings, took his departure from the scene of unique devotional labours with the supreme satisfaction that his soul had at last found and successfully performed his duty to Godhead and humanity...."

Practise and Preach—More
"Everybody should be together, it is good, and practise—if there is a lack of practice, then you will lose your faith. Practice makes perfect. Otherwise, without proper practice, we cannot proceed in our spiritual life."
• Download (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 13 November 2011)

Be Small to Be Big
"We must be always humble and tolerant with our own men. We do not want to learn from others, we always want to teach others—everybody wants to be a prabhu, but not everybody wants to be a servant, that is the main problem in our spiritual life..."
• Download (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 13 November 2011)

Fortune Favours the Brave
"Everybody must have some responsibility—the more one does, the more one gets. Gurudev is always ready to answer your hankering, to fulfil any desire you have. If you have desire, mercy will come, and you must remember: no service—no mercy."
• Download (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 13 November 2011)

Devotion Comes from Devotion
"I am telling this to everybody: worship Tulasi—if you have no Deity, if you do not offer bhog at an altar, you can always bhog to Tulasi. And one more thing: pants, shirts, etc. are for the office. When you do devotional activities, Tulasi beads, dhoti, tilak are necessary."
• Download (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 13 November 2011)

Cultivate Your Heart
"It is necessary to cultivate your heart, to make it fertile. You have got a good seed, and you must increase, must grow your bhakti-lata-bij through sravanam-kirtanam. Only by chanting the Holy Name can you get the real benefit and go to your real home..."
• Download (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 23 January 2012)

• SONG: Jaya guru maharaja karuna-sagara | জয় গুরু মহারাজ করুণাসাগর
Sri Sri Nitai-Chaitanya arati: "Glory to Guru Maharaj, Sri Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, an ocean of mercy. He manifested the effulgent service of Nitai Chaitanyadev in Nilachal for the benefit of the entire world."

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. They are the best, the crest-jewels, of all Avatars and the only source of joy."

Sri Puri Dham: Page 1 | Page 2
Darshan of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanyadev and Their Chaitanya Saraswat Math temple in Sri Puri Dham (photographs taken and posted in 2015 at the time of Sri Puri Dham pilgrimage).

Distributors of Mercy
"Today is the appearance day of Nitai Gaurachandra in Puri. Actually, you know that Deities always come through devotees—the Lord takes the hand of His devotee and comes in the form of a Deity..."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 11 December 2010)

First Visit to Sri Puri Dham
"This temple was made by the mercy of Gurudev, although it is a very small temple, but it is very nice and sweet. I came to Puri first time through service—without service Gurudev would not have sent me here and I would not come myself."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 6 April 2013)

Visiting Sri Tarakeshwar Temple
(18 photographs, 1.1 Mb | 25 November 2017)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits Sri Tarakeshwar Temple to nourish the devotees with a merciful shower of Hari-katha, as well as to check the running of the temple.

A Shift In Objective
"Worshipping Lord Ramachandra was in Treta-yuga, but we live not in Treta-yuga—we live in Kali-yuga and we must know what is the dharma of Kali-yuga. It is not like the tradition to come to a temple, pay dandavat and go. We must practise properly."
• Download (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 23 January 2012)

Daily Practice: Observing Festivals
A new page added to the Daily Practice section on the website dedicated to Vaishnav-seva and observing festivals. "Why are you making a festival? Making a festival means you are inviting many people and you are giving them some prasadam, engaging them in Krishna consciousness—it means practising Krishna consciousness."

Morning at Sri Tarakeshwar Temple
(20 photographs, 1.1 Mb | 26 November 2017)
Sharing more photographs from the Temple in Tarakeshwar—the morning programme and services, along with an initiation and some informal time His Divine Grace spends with the devotees.

Rare Sincere Mood
"Having only taken initiation, you do not become a disciple. The main thing is to give yourself. 'I will take whatever remnants your devotees leave, with great joy every day.' And what do we do? If we see some paneer floating on top, we first pick the paneer out."
(This Bengali class has been posted before as a single file and can be listened to/downloaded here:)
• Download (17.3 Mb, 48 min | 6 December 2012 | Bengali)

Keep Afloat
"The Holy Name of Krishna never appears in bad association. The Holy Name appears only in good association. What does association with devotees mean? How will you get association of your Guru? You will get the association of your Guru by serving your Guru."
(This Bengali class has been posted before as a single file and can be listened to/downloaded here:)
• Download (17.3 Mb, 48 min | 6 December 2012 | Bengali)

In honour of the coming grand festival of Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine appearance day, we are presenting The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration, a very beautiful and nourishing book that was published after the first World Tour of His Divine Grace, 1992-1993.

Chapter 1: Divine Benevolence Abroad [By Sri Mohanananda Dasa Adhikari] "Srila Govinda Maharaj loves every one of us, and if the devotees can come together as a loving, serving family, then a beautiful thing will happen. Whenever strangers will see Srila Govinda Maharaj's disciples they will say, 'They are so nice, and so loving to each other. Let's try to arrange something with them so that we can gain their association.'"

Through Heart and Mercy
"We always want Gurudev's mercy because without his mercy we cannot understand Gurudev. You cannot understand the Guru with these material eyes, with your material knowledge, your brain—you need to have a heart, and ultimately you need mercy..."
(This Bengali class has been posted before as a single file and can be listened to/downloaded here:)
• Download (17.3 Mb, 48 min | 6 December 2012 | Bengali)

In honour of the coming grand festival of Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine appearance day, we are presenting The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration, a very beautiful and nourishing book that was published after the first World Tour of His Divine Grace, 1992-1993.

Chapter 2: Universal Grace "Krishna is very merciful. He does not just look at the devotee's external activities. Krishna wants the heart of the devotee. He wants to see if there is love and affection along with the service for Him. He is not looking to see if you are American or you are Indian. Krishna does not want to know where you were born in this world. Krishna only wants your love, your affection, and your attachment for Him with full faith and sincerity. And wherever He finds it, Krishna will give His mercy."

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

 · · • • • · ·

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• OFFLINE READING, ePub:
(All lectures of His Divine Grace Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj posted here on the website)
Issue #1 (31 Dec '14)
Issue #2 (2015/1)
Issue #3 (2015/2)
Issue #4 (2015/3)
Issue #5 (2015/4)
Issue #6 (2016/1)
Issue #7 (2016/2)
Issue #8 (2016/3)
Issue #9 (2016/4)
Issue #10 (2017/1)
Issue #11 (2017/2)
Issue #12 (2017/3)
Issue #13 (2017/4)
Issue #14 (2018/1)
Issue #15 (2018/2)
Issue #16 (2018/3)
Issue #17 (2018/4)
Issue #18 (2019/1)
Issue #19 (2019/2)
Issue #20 (2019/3)
Issue #21 (2019/4)
Issue #22 (2020/1)
Issue #23 (2020/2)
Issue #24 (2020/3)
Issue #25 (2020/4)
Issue #26 (2021/1)
Issue #27 (2021/2)
Issue #28 (2021/3)
Issue #29 (2021/4)
Issue #30 (2022/1)