Reaching Devotees' Hearts

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata-Vijayawada (South India),
26 July 2020, part 1

Dandavat, everybody. By the mercy of Gurudev, I can see you all after such a long time. I always think that every summer season I always go to meet with you, but this year because of the pandemic situation I could not come. You also always come at the time of Ratha-yatra and Vrindavan parikrama. I do not know if Vrindavan parikrama will happen this year or not—we still do not know it.

Are all the devotees in Vijaywada OK? Is everybody's health OK?

Devotee: Everybody is fine, Maharaj.

OK, I am very happy to hear that. Is there still lockdown in Vijayawada or is it OK now?

Devotee: No, there is still lockdown.

Oh, so nobody can work now, can they?

Devotee: Yes, all the markets are closed too.

Yes, it is a very difficult situation. It is also very difficult for preaching, but anyhow we can preach to the devotees and reach devotees' hearts through this scientific method, through this system.

This situation has come to us and actually Krishna is testing us to see how much we can tolerate. Anyhow, in this situation when we are all staying in our houses, we must all practise properly, read some books, listen to some kirtans, chant kirtans, practise our bhajan life. We must practise properly the main devotional processes:

সাধুসঙ্গ, নামকীর্ত্তন, ভাগবতশ্রবণ ।
মথুরাবাস, শ্রীমূর্ত্তির শ্রদ্ধায় সেবন ॥

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and serve holy Deities with faith."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124)

We can practise all this from our house also. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur said,

যে দিন গৃহে ভজন দেখি ।
গৃহেতে গোলোক ভায় ॥

ye dina grhe bhajana dekhi
grhete goloka bhaya

On the days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there.

(Saranagati, 'Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu')

Krishna appears in the house where devotees practise properly—where they offer bhog and take prasadam. Such a house is non-different from Goloka Vrindavan.

You are very fortunate souls—you have connected so many devotees with Srila Rupa Goswami's line. You are all staying under the guidance of Srila Rupa Goswami, under the guidance of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, you are practising properly—it gives very much happiness to me. You are all very fortunate souls. And your Krishna consciousness life gives so much happiness to you all as well.

— : • : —

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