Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

Topic

September 5

Pratibimba is compared to the light we receive when the sun reflects upon water. Such a reflection is distorted; it is not the real sun in its full potency. Similarly, although the holy name is completely pure, the reflection of the holy name is distorted by the materialistic conceptions in our hearts caused by our offenses. We chant, but we are not chanting the pure or real holy name. And the first step to clearing this problem is to develop a desire to advance in our chanting.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

September 4

We should strongly desire to advance in our chanting. Unless we actually become free of offenses in chanting, we will never be able to achieve love of God, which is the goal of chanting.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

September 3

Faith cannot be legislated even by scriptural injunctions. It can only arise by hearing, seeing, and associating with those who have faith in pure devotional service. In the market place of the holy name, the most valuable commodity is faith. Just like a mundane investor who wishes to invest his wealth looks for a solid investment which will hopefully give him a good return, similarly one who has some faith in pure devotional service and the holy name, but also wants to increase it, has to be willing to invest their faith in that person who invokes faith in pure devotional service and the pure holy name. The more faith invested, if it is a genuine solid investment, the more we will get in return.
(Letter to disciples and friends)

September 2

A person who wants to be recognized for his humility does not have time to concentrate on chanting the holy name, and only a devotee who concentrates fully on the holy name, glorifying the Lord and feeling dependent upon Him can actually attract the Lord’s attention. Thus our desire to attract attention can be fulfilled by renouncing the desire to attract attention. Does that sound like a contradiction? The contradiction is resolved by focusing our desire to attract attention on attracting the attention of Krishna. That should be the goal of everything a devotee does.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

September 1

“Vaishnava” means servant of the Vaishnava. A Vaishnava always meditates on serving guru. Everything a Vaishnava does is intended as an act of service, and because a Vaishnava is always serving the guru’s mood, preaching becomes successful. When this dynamic is intact, the Lord agrees to come. Srila Prabhupada was such a glorious Vaishnava that he fulfilled this criterion and worked tirelessly in his Guru Maharaja’s service, always meditating on his guru’s order.

August 31

Only those who are no longer interested in the false, temporary praise of the material world can relish glorification of Krishna. Freedom from interest in worldly praise is real humility. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Thakura states that in spite of his being highly respected, the devotee will take care to avoid becoming proud of being honored. He concentrates on the lotus feet of Krishna and chants His holy name. Instead of concentrating on self-glorification, he will concentrate on glorification of the Lord. Such concentration will help those who are not completely free of pride to become humble.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

August 30

Sometimes a person does not try to project his image as opulent, good-looking, strong, or influential, but what about the pride that may follow such subjugation of false designations? We so easily become proud: “Just see, I have distanced myself from wealth, and bodily beauty.” We then begin to project the image of humble Vaishnavas, thinking that humility is a quality that will attract others to us. This is the trap of pride. A devotee does not try to project an image. Rather, he is naturally humble, never seeking personal recognition. He considers pride as poison. He is not interested in the false glorification coming from the material world.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

August 29

As devotees, we are interested in developing a sense of self-worth based on our ability to please Krishna. As we develop devotional qualities, we become more and more pleasing to Krishna, and therefore more and more pleasing to ourselves. It is natural for everyone to want to please someone else and to base our feelings of self-worth on our success or failure in that regard, but when we concentrate on trying to please others by projecting the identity of a wealthy person, a beautiful person, a person of high birth, etc., we find that not only are we exploited by others, none of these qualities actually satisfies the Lord. If the Lord is not satisfied, it is impossible for us to feel completely satisfied.
(Sri Siksataa- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)

August 28

The continuous effort to reach suddha-nama is what differentiates offenders from real disciples. Offenders remain in ignorance; those who strive to become free from offenses do not. Real disciples seek appropriate instruction in the holy name’s glories and endeavor to become free from their anarthas by proper discrimination between the anarthas and the bhakti-lata-bija.
(Initiation - Keiv 11.15.2001)

August 27

It takes patience to gain Krishna’s shelter. If we are patient, Krishna will see what we are willing to tolerate to achieve His feet. In this way we will prove our faith. We must be fully dependent upon Him; we cannot expect immediate results according to our timetables. Patience is essential.

(Lecture on Bhaktyaloka)

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