Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

Topic

August 29

Just as we cannot practice devotional service except by a devotee’s mercy, so we cannot gain spiritual strength except by a devotee’s mercy. In order to have the strength to see Krishna and to enter the spiritual world, we must firmly hold on to the instructions of the Lord’s devotee. Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if we are drowning in the ocean, we can only be saved by someone who is not drowning. If that person throws us a life preserver, he or she can pull us out of the ocean as long as we don’t let go. We must hold on to the mercy; that much we have to do. If we do not hold on, we will never be pulled out. Thus if we want to come to the stage of devotional service, we have to hold on tightly to the Vaisnavas’ instructions by constant remembrance and constant endeavor to apply them. Only then will we find the spiritual strength to allow ourselves to be rescued.
(LFD, Vol2, Spiritual Strength in Executing Sadhana-bhakti, Pg 48, last paragraph)

August 18

Kali’s influence is not only present externally, it is present internally, in our own hearts. Certainly, we go out to preach Krishna consciousness because we can see Kali-yuga manifesting everywhere, but if we really want to conquer Kali, we can also look into our own hearts and see how attracted we are to maya. To the degree that we suffer from such attraction, it will be that much more difficult to fight maya. We require strength. The Mundaka Upanisad (3.2.4) states, “A person devoid of strength in devotional service cannot achieve the Supreme Soul, the Lord. Only one who is eager to practice devotional service through the process of chanting His holy names can enter the supreme abode of the Lord.” We begin to practice devotional service by engaging in activities for Krishna’s satisfaction. But even to do that we need strength. Where will we get it? To gain spiritual strength, we must seek it from someone who already has it. And the source of all spiritual strength is Lord Balarama.
(LFD, Vol2, Spiritual Strength in Executing Sadhana-bhakti, Pg 46 and Pg 47)

August 17

We all require nourishment in spiritual life, and if we do not get it, we become weak. That weakness makes us vulnerable to the influence of the external energy. It takes spiritual strength to fight maya, because maya is constantly waging war against each and every one of us. We have to take nourishment in whatever form we can assimilate, but in its most generalized sense, we are nourished by sadhu-sanga, which affords us the opportunity to hear hari-katha, descriptions of the Supreme Lord’s glories. Vaisnava association will also allow us the opportunity to hear and chant about the glories of the holy name, and to take part in kirtana.
(LFD, Vol2, Spiritual Strength in Executing Sadhana-bhakti, Pg 46, 1st and 2nd paragraph)

August 16

What should we do when we see devotees fighting with one another?
In Caitanya-bhagavata Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura says that when you see two Vaisnavas fighting you should know that it is the Lord’s pastime. Therefore it is offensive to take sides. But Vrndavana dasa Thakura is talking about elevated Vaisnavas, not aparadhis. If you see two advanced Vaisnavas seemingly opposed to one another, consider it lila; don’t become an aparadhi by taking one side over another. And if both are aparadhis and are offending one another by their behavior, then it is still best not to get involved. However, we have to be careful not to judge that something is an offense when it is actually not. Prabhupäda said that we must speak the truth, calling a spade a spade. The truth is sometimes unpalatable, but we should not refrain from speaking it. But if you see that a person is actually being offensive in their behavior, then “taking sides” may mean that at least you try to get the dispute resolved by someone who can help. Simply taking sides and even starting a defensive movement is not the way to resolve problems. We do not solve problems by numbers or by creating a vox populi. Rather, we should resolve problems from the spiritual platform. Therefore we should look for people who have the most Krishna conscious influence on all parties and place the dispute in their hands.
(LFD, Vol2, Becoming Free from Sin, Pg 43, last paragraph)

August 15

Can a pure devotee fall down?

One who is under the protection of the Lord’s internal potency cannot fall down. Those whose hearts are completely pure will not fall down. But even at bhava-bhakti there are traces of anarthas, which can lead to falldown. Anarthas are not completely destroyed until prema. Bilvamangala Thakura had reached bhava-bhakti in his previous life, but he temporarily fell from that platform.
(LFD, Vol2, Becoming Free from Sin, Pg 43, 2nd paragraph)

August 11

We have to associate with those who help us overcome sinful desires and avoid those who encourage us to fulfill them. Sometimes when devotees are weak, overcome by material desire, they associate with someone similarly weak, someone with the same material propensities. Then they simply encourage one another to engage in sense gratification. Instead, we should seek the association of devotees who can help us overcome our material desires. It is actually an item of sincerity to seek out proper instruction so that we can avoid committing sinful activities. Like, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says about himself, “My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again. Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support.” If our feet are slipping on the path, we need extra support. We have to take shelter of devotees who can give us that support in the form of their merciful instructions.
(LFD, Vol2, Becoming Free from Sin, Pg 42, 2nd & 3rd paragraph)"

August 10

Even though we are determinedly engaged in devotional service, we may slip and fall, deviate, or commit a sinful act because as Srila Prabupada explains that we may still have a connection with our past sinful activities due to our long association with the material energy. Still, if we are rightly situated in our determination to worship Krishna purely, we will sincerely repent that sin and endeavor not to commit it again. Of course, part of our repentance will be our willingness to accept the reaction for the sin. Actually, it is this willingness to accept the reaction that distinguishes a sincere devotee from an insincere devotee: a sincere devotee will see the reaction as both deserved and a help to remove the sinful desire from the heart; an insincere person will actually want to commit the sin again but will not want to suffer the reactions.
(LFD, Vol2, Becoming Free from Sin, Pg 41 and Pg 42)

August 9

Is there a difference between how people were attracted to Krishna consciousness during Sri Caitanya’s time and how they have been attracted today?

Srila Prabhupäda told us that we are not so powerful that we can make wild animals chant and dance in ecstatic love of Godhead, but at least we should try to attract the human beings. But although the distribution of love of God was exceptional during Lord Caitanya’s presence, seeing devotees since then who have truly relished Krishna consciousness in one another’s association has been very attractive to the conditioned souls. When we see genuine Vaisnava exchanges between devotees, we witness real displays of Vaisnava qualities like humility, tolerance, and patience. This is attractive. Speaking about Vaisnava etiquette, there are many examples of how Lord Caitanya bestowed His mercy on the Vaisnavas and how other Vaisnavas became happy to see it. When we see Vaisnava exchanges that are free from envy and pride, we see the Vaisnavas’ attraction to hearing and chanting about Krishna. All of this allows us to develop faith and attracts us to take part.
(LFD, Vol2, Enthusiasm for Devotional Service, Pg 37 and Pg 38)

August 8

Jnanis always want to be independent from Krishna. Therefore they endeavor on their own to achieve the results of their activities. Devotees, however, always depend on the Lord for His mercy in anything they do. Devotees always base their enthusiasm not on independent endeavor but on faithful dependence on the Lord. Bhaktivinoda Thakura further says in Bhaktyaloka that we should not lose enthusiasm because we have no strength to destroy the reactions of karma. In the very beginning of devotional service the sadhaka must have faith with full enthusiasm.
(LFD, Vol2, Enthusiasm for Devotional Service, Pg 37, 2nd, 3rd paragraph)

August 7

Enthusiasm requires faith. Practicing pure devotion in faith gives pleasure to the Lord. Mukunda, thinking of himself as devoid of devotion, once asked Lord Caitanya, “Why is it that when I see Your face I feel so much pleasure?” Lord Caitanya replied, “Those who have no faith in the Lord cause pain to My heart. And therefore because I feel pain, they cannot feel happiness.” That Mukunda felt such pleasure to see the Lord’s face indicates that he did have faith in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord wants to give pleasure to all living entities, but when the jnanis or impersonalists say, “The Supreme is not a person,” the Lord finds their statement painful.
(LFD, Vol2, Enthusiasm for Devotional Service, Pg 36, 2nd paragraph)

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