Be Exclusive, Be One-Pointed

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata—Worldwide, 2 May 2021, part 3

Question: I am very grateful to Your Divine Grace for being always there with me, for protecting me. I have so many things not favourable to devotional life in me, I feel I am incompetent in so many ways. What can I do?

What is unfavourable to devotion is called anaratha. We must be always free from any unwanted material desires,

অন্যাভিলাষিতা-শূন্যং জ্ঞান-কর্ম্মাদ্যনাবৃতম্ ।
আনুকূল্যেন কৃষ্ণানুশীলনং ভক্তিরুত্তমা ॥

anyabhilasita sunyam jnana-karmady anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama

"The highest devotion is that which satisfies Lord Krsna, free from the coverings of any pursuits such as action, knowledge."

(Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhuh, 1.1.11)

Always be 'anyabhilasita sunyam'—be free from other desires.

অন্য অভিলাষ ছাড়ি, জ্ঞান কর্ম্ম পরিহরি,
কায়মনে করিব ভজন ।
সাধুসঙ্গে কৃষ্ণসেবা, না পূজিব দেবী-দেবা,
এই ভক্তি পরম কারণ ॥

anya abhilasa chhadi, jnana karma parihari
kaya-mane kariba bhajana
sadhu-sange krsna-seva, na pujiba devi-deva
ei bhakti parama karana

"The topmost process of devotional service is to worship the Lord with body and mind, giving up desires for fruitive activities and mental speculation. One should serve Lord Krsna in the association of devotees without worshipping any demigods."

(Sri Sri Prema-bhakti-chandrika, 13, Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

We must be exclusive, one-pointed in our desire (ananyabhilas), we must have no other desires (anyabhilas). Only think about Krishna, think about the temple, think about the devotees—that is good. If you think about good things, then all bad things (anarthas) will automatically be removed from you. Do not worry so much about this. When you think some anartha is coming, you must give more and more attention to practising—concentrate your mind on practising.

[Addressing a devotee:] When will you start your retired life?

Devotee: Very soon, Gurudev, by your blessing.

Gurudev told me, "Leave your job, leave everything and join Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math full-time—I will be very happy," and when he told me that, I agreed and left my job, everything. Gurudev's blessing means service. If you follow Gurudev's instruction, that is the blessing—you must have no other intention.

All right, I am offering my obeisance to everyone. I pray to everybody—please take care of your health, and I will also take care of myself.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Vijay Trivikram Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Bandhav Puri Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Please forgive my offence. Dandavat. Thank you so much.

[Addressing a devotee:] If you want to preach, you can start preaching. Start preaching as you did before. Some problem will come, you must be ready for that. When Gurudev told me in the early days to start reading Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, I also listened to so much criticism. They said I was a little boy, I did not know anything about the conception. Later, when Gurudev gave me this position, I also heard so many things—they said I am not a follower of Gurudev, that I have cut up Srila Rupa Goswami's line, etc. I have listened to everything and tolerated it. If they criticise you, you too must digest a little. What is the problem? You have not seen how much I am tolerating—you have not seen from what kind of a dangerous position I have come. If anyone can understand it, they will understand easily what I am saying...

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

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