Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

Topic

August 10

Krishna does not always immediately relieve pain, though we should never think that it's because He wants us to suffer. He wants no one to suffer - not even those who are envious of Him, what to speak of His devotee. We must see the root cause of our suffering is our forgetfulness of Him. Now is the time to train your mind to see all this as Krishna's mercy.
From pain also comes growth for those who are willing to learn and trust Krishna's ways of bringing us closer to Him. Pain is also a reminder that we have forgotten Him. Krishna's devotees are those who remind us of His all-knowing presence within our hearts. By remembering that Krishna is there in our hearts, witnessing our actions, words, and thoughts, Krishna, who has allowed us to forget Him, will bring us closer to Him. Or as Srila Prabhupada would often say, "If we take one step to Krishna, Krishna will take ten steps to us." We simply must make the effort to remember Him and remember that He's there in our hearts because He wants us to turn to Him, He cares for us, and He will not forget us.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 122-123, last paragraph.

August 9

The details about "one's cultivation through the endeavors to engage and disengage one's body, mind and words" may differ from one guru to another. But the direction for "cultivation towards the object of priti or affection" (Krishna) is the primary objective of anyone in the position of guru. Thus the encouragement for a particular service that we may receive from one guru may differ from what we receive from another. But, still,their aim is always one - to see their dependant advance along the path of saranagati. Without a clear vision of this ultimate goal, the impetus for service will become disoriented.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 133, 3rd paragraph.

August 8

In his Durgama-sangamani commentary on Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Srila Jiva Goswami has explained that the word anusilanam has two meanings. First, it means cultivation through the endeavors to engage and disengage one's body, mind and words. Second, it means cultivation towards the object of our priti, or affection, through manasi-bhava, the sentiments of the heart and mind. Although anusilana is of two types, the cultivation through manasi-bhava is included within cultivation by cesta, one's activities. Hence one's activities or endeavors (cesta) and one's internal sentiments (bhava) are mutually interdependent, and in the end it is the cesta which are concluded to be the sole characteristics of cultivation. Only when the activites of one's body, mind and words are favorably executed for the pleasure of Krishna is it called Bhakti.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 132, 3rd paragraph.

August 7

Cultivation is the activity of hearing with faith that increases progressively through continued hearing and service (both being mutually interpendent). Our service has substance when we hear nicely and from that comes the inspiration that awakens and nourishes selfless devotion to Krishna.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 132, 2nd paragraph.

August 6

Meditation means stopping all nonsensical activities, at least for the time being. Devotional service, however, not only puts an end to all nonsensical mundane activities, but also engages one in meaningful devotional activities.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 129, last paragraph.

August 5

Guru is "one", in that there is no difference in the objective of diksha and siksha gurus. Their aim is to assist their dependants in their advancement by destroying ignorance with the torchlight of knowledge. In other words, the diksha guru wants to see his disciple advance towards pure devotional service and the siksha gurus want to see their siksha disciple advance towards pure devotional service. They are happy- especially when siksha comes in Srila Prabhupada's line - even if the disciple receives the strength and knowledge to advance from a source other than himself. Therefore from wherever strength and knowledge come, the disciple should take it - with the blessings of his guru. There may even be many who provide that to us at different stages of our advancement.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 129, 1st paragraph.

August 4

We must get sambandha-jnana from our guru if we want lasting shelter under his guidance. Sambandha-jnana is the knowledge and necessary level of faith for establishing our connection with Krishna. Once the connection is established, the guru gradually clears the path towards the goal by keeping the disciple moving in the right direction through his instructions and by providing the disciple strength to overcome obstacles (anarthas).
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 129, last paragraph.

August 3

Thank you very much for your efforts to help Mukunda dasa remember Krishna while leaving his body. When you help others remember Krishna, Krishna helps you to remember Him. You become dear to Him for this service. Life is short. We will all leave our bodies in due course of time. Please therefore go on with this service and be blessed to become fully Krishna concious in this lifetime.
Collected Letters to Friends and disciples Vol 4, Pg 135, last paragraph.

August 2

We understand that the principle is in pleasing the Lord. Which means the perfection of any service that is rendered is that the Lord is satisfied by one's activities. If one does not have the facility or is physically incapable of doing something very great, the Lord will accept even something very small.

August 1

The characteristic of that which is spiritual, is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of pleasure. And the characteristic of that which is material is that it's temporary, full of ignorance and it's filled with suffering. Asat acit nirananda.

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