Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

Topic

March 29

Rupa Gosvami says that when he chants the two syllables “Krish-na,” his senses become stunned, and the Lord, in the form of the holy name, dances in the courtyard of his heart. He immediately experiences the presence of the Lord from these two syllables. Thus, certainly some great pleasure is derived from chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is the highest pleasure. There is no higher pleasure than the constant chanting of the holy name. The Srimad-Bhagavatam states that those persons who are constantly engaged in glorifying the Lord transcend all the miseries of the material world. And by becoming absorbed in the holy name of the Lord, they give up identification with this material body. Srila Prabhupada explains that one can understand that he is advancing by the degree that he loses his attraction to the material world and the material body.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.62-92 Donetsk—June 17, 2000, Page 59

March 28

Often devotees ask, “How can we get a taste? Where is it to be found? When I chant Hare Krishna, I do not experience bliss; tears are not coming to my eyes; I am not falling to the ground.” If one wants to acquire some taste for hearing and chanting, as the Srimad-Bhagavatam says, “One has to faithfully serve the devotees who have no vice.” By serving them and being in their association one develops some taste. The Nectar of Devotion explains that sometimes a devotee who has taste can reflect that taste into the hearts of others. In this way, we may be able to experience some shadow of taste. We get a glimpse of this taste by the association of devotees who have that taste.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.62-92 Donetsk—June 17, 2000, Page 58

March 21

We sometimes hear the expression: “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” We help ourselves by cultivating the right attitude in approaching the Lord. The right attitude is to know that only Krishna can help us. Lord Caitanya is patita-pavana, the uplifter of the most fallen. We cannot become saved by any means other than His mercy. Prabhupada says in the purport that material possessions, high education, and respectable parentage, are just like a fever, which is an external symptom of an unhealthy body. The fever is inside the body, just as the anarthas are inside the body. When those anarthas are in the body, they manifest themselves externally. One has to clean himself from these anarthas, and there is no potency as great as the holy name of the Lord. This is how a devotee becomes akincana, and Krishna, being Akincana-gocara, gives Himself to that devotee who makes Lord Caitanya his goal in life.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 46

March 20

When a devotee perceives how his anarthas are seemingly inflamed under certain circumstances, he should see it as an opportunity to pray to the Lord to help him become free from these anarthas. Like quite often the anarthas arouse in the association of devotees. Such is the power of the association of devotees! When one sees his anarthas inflamed in this way, he should not think, “The devotee is making these anarthas appear!” No, they are already there, waiting to come out.When the anarthas come out, a devotee should pray to the Lord, “Please help me to become free from these anarthas.” He does not pray, “Please help me to become free from the association of devotees.” If somebody thinks that way, he may get the fulfillment of his desires, but those anarthas will remain deep within the core of his heart.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 46

March 19

Engaging the mind means accepting favorably that which is pleasing to the Lord. The business of a materially conditioned mind is to accept and reject, but a devotee should utilize his mind for accepting everything favorable for the service of the Lord and rejecting everything unfavorable. That means accepting one’s current situation as favorable for the service of the Lord: “Krishna has put me in this difficult situation for my own benefit. Now, what can I do? How can I take advantage of it? I can approach Krishna with sincere feeling. I can chant Krishna’s names feelingly.” Chanting feelingly means chanting with the desire to be engaged in the Lord’s service.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 45,46

March 18

One has to learn to tolerate reversals in life without being disturbed. A devotee is able to tolerate because he accepts it as the karma of his past misdeeds. When he tolerates, he should offer his obeisances to Krishna and continue to glorify Him. He should continue engaging in Krishna’s service with his body, mind, and words, and continue to utilize his senses for the service of the Lord.
Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 45

March 17

Therefore, the devotee has to be very expert to be able to understand when Krishna is putting him in that most favorable situation. He may find himself in that situation but may not see it as favorable. That is due to the influence of maya. He may think, “Why have I been put in a situation like this? Why am I not getting happiness...etcetera? When a devotee sees that nothing external can fully satisfy him, he should see it as an opportunity to take shelter of Krishna’s holy name.
(Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 44)

March 16

When a devotee is in a situation where he has no one to depend on except Krishna, he is the most fortunate person. He is helpless. All his artificial defenses for protection in this material world have been destroyed. We become dependent on our material possessions and even on our own abilities. We think that by our own abilities we will be able to achieve success. However, Krishna says, “I am the ability in man.” (Bg. 7.8) Krishna knows the heart of the devotee, and He knows how to make His devotee dependent on Him.
(Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 44)

March 15

In order to chant Krishna’s names with sincere feeling, one has to be akincana, which means that he is not dependent upon material wealth or mundane relationships in this world. Sometimes, to favor His devotee, the Lord places him in a situation where he has nothing to depend on except Him.
(Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 44)

March 14

The devotee’s mind is meant to be absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, just as the minds of the gopis cannot stop thinking about Him. Because they cannot stop thinking about Krishna, they are always utilizing their tongues for speaking about that blue cowherd boy and His wonderful activities. When their eyes behold the form of the Lord, they curse Lord Brahma for making eyes that blink. When their eyes blink only for a moment, they think, “For that one moment when my eyes are blinking, I cannot see Krishna.” Imagine the intensity of their feelings when they express, “It is intolerable to blink!” Krishna’s form is so beautiful for their eyes to behold.
(Caitanya Caritamrita Lectures Book, Adi Lila 7.1 Moscow—May 2002, Page 43)

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