Guru disciple relationship – Light of Godhead

Reverential mood towards Spiritual Master
Reverential mood towards Spiritual Master

Reverential mood towards Spiritual Master

Speaker: Amoghalila dasa
Source: Tamal Krishna Goswami’s and Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s Disappearance Day

I am thinking of one or two incidents I can mention, and some realizations I had from them. One was the last morning Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay, in Juhu. I was fortunate-actually by Giriraj Maharaja’s mercy-to be able to be in Srila Prabhupada’s room then. After about a month in Bombay, Srila Prabhupada was leaving that morning for Vrindavan. Madhava Prabhu and Upendra Prabhu were also there, though Upendra was in and out of the room.
Srila Prabhupada was just lying on his bed. He could hardly move.

syamala.ids@gmail.com2019-03-28T17:35:44+00:00February 21st, 2018|Categories: Ideal disciple, Tamal Krishna Goswami|Tags: familiarity breeds contempt|

Secret of success

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: SB 3.23.7

In his previous life, Nārada was a maidservant’s son, but his mother was engaged in the service of great devotees. He got the opportunity to serve the devotees, and simply by eating the remnants of their foodstuff and carrying out their orders he became so elevated that in his next life he became the great personality Nārada. For spiritual achievement the easiest path is to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and to serve him with heart and soul. That is the secret of success. As stated by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura

syamala.ids@gmail.com2017-07-10T22:57:55+00:00July 10th, 2017|Categories: Narada Muni, Service attitude, Spiritual master, Stories|Tags: Servant of the Servant, Srila Viśvanātha Cakravartī|

Bhakti Siddhantas determination for initiation

Speaker: Bhakti Vikasa Swami
Source: Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava

Bābājī Mahārāja told him, “I once accepted a disciple, but he cheated me and went away. I will not make any further disciples.” But Śrī Siddhānta Sarasvatī was not easily discouraged and again begged for mercy. Bābājī Mahārāja responded, “I will ask Mahāprabhu. If He gives permission your request will be granted.” When after a few days Śrī Siddhānta Sarasvatī returned and inquired, “What was Mahāprabhu’s order?” Bābājī Mahārāja replied, “I forgot to ask.” And when Śrī Siddhānta Sarasvatī came for the third time he was directly refused. “I asked,” Bābājī

syamala.ids@gmail.com2017-01-02T23:17:39+00:00January 2nd, 2017|Categories: Bhakti Siddhanta saraswati thakura, Determination, Gaura Kishor das, Initiation, Stories|

Representative of Krsna

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Kanista, Madhyama, Uttama

The spiritual master is the representative of Krsna. How he becomes representative? What is the test? The test is… Just like anyone can understand, representative. Suppose a business firm’s representative is going to canvass for business, what is his business? He will take the interest of the firm, not his personal interest. He will try to secure business for the firm he’s working, not for his personal… That is perfect representative. And if he goes, in the name of the firm’s representative,

light-of-godhead2015-07-02T19:56:12+00:00July 1st, 2015|Categories: Analogies, Spiritual master, Surrender|Tags: Representative|

I have made your qualifications

Speaker: Radhanath Swami
Source: Offering to Srila Prabhupada

Gaudiya math’s biggest sanyasis were getting a lots of money to start centres. Here are just some new devotees, some foreign hippies, who just became devotees, who were just struggling to follow the principles and chant their rounds, and they don’t have any money, all they have is the inspiration, the example of Prabhupada and they are starting centres, and there is hundreds and hundreds of people coming everywhere, transforming their lives, becoming devotees. How is that possible? And some of those people didn’t even last

light-of-godhead2015-06-05T15:33:21+00:00May 7th, 2015|Categories: Guru-nista, Inspiration, Miracle, Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada|Tags: Faith in Guru|

Transforming bell metal into gold

Source: SB 5.24.17 Purport

Srila Sanatana Gosvami also states that when bell metal is treated with mercury, it can produce gold. Srila Sanatana Gosvami mentions this in regard to the initiation of low-class men to turn them into brahmanas. Sanatana Gosvami said:

yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam

“As one can transform kamsa, or bell metal, into gold by treating it with mercury, one can also turn a lowborn man into a brahmana by initiating him properly into Vaisnava activities.” The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is trying to

light-of-godhead2015-06-11T21:33:25+00:00May 7th, 2015|Categories: Analogies, Brahmana, Initiation, Regulative principles, Sanatana Gosvami|Tags: No discrimination|

Disappearance of Jayananda prabhu

Speaker: Tamal Krishna Goswami
Source: TKG’s Diary: Prabhupada’s Final Days

3rd May 1977:
Today we received word that Jayananda Prabhu had given up his body. When Srila Prabhupada was informed he said, “Yes, sooner or later we must all go.” Afterwards, tears came to His Divine Grace’s eyes. “He was one of my very best disciples. He was the first to give me five thousand dollars, which was used for printing Teachings of Lord Caitanya. He used to drive me in the car, and while driving he would be chanting.

light-of-godhead2015-05-25T22:16:30+00:00May 1st, 2015|Categories: Death, Ideal disciple, Jayananda, Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, Ratha-yatra|

Remembering Krsna always

Speaker: Radhanath Swami
Source: Pure Devotional Service

This verse “Om apavithra” signifies the essence of human life, the essence of initiation. “Whether one is pure or impure, one who remembers lotus eyed Supreme Lord Sri Krsna becomes purified both within and without “. This verse says one who remembers Krsna even while passing through all different types of situations. Commitment is important. Just like the commitment of the mother to the child. Sometimes the child laughs and smiles and gives her lot of happiness, sometimes the child may really

light-of-godhead2015-05-25T00:03:46+00:00May 1st, 2015|Categories: Analogies, Commitment, Initiation|Tags: Remembering Krsna|

Mrgari hunter and Narada muni

Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Devotional Desire

In this connection I shall recite one historical incident from the Puranas. There was a hunter in Prayag. Prayag, as you know, is in Allahabad. He kept hunting in the forest indiscriminately. Once, Narada Muni was passing through the jungle and felt very compassionate towards the animals who were half-dead and half-killed by the hunter. Narada Muni, being a Vaisnava, was very kind to all living entities.

light-of-godhead2015-05-25T00:25:55+00:00April 28th, 2015|Categories: Narada Muni, Spiritual master, Stories|

How to receive mercy?

Speaker: Radhanath Swami
Source: Pure devotional service

One time Srila Prabhupada was asked, “what can we do to reciprocate with what you have given us?”. What Srila Prabhupada replied is simple and complete. He said “just receive what I have given you and share it with each other and others”. The first part, to receive what Srila Prabhupada has given us is something deeper than the ocean, higher than the sky in the universe, he has given us the spiritual world, he has given us Goloka Vrindavana, he has

light-of-godhead2015-05-25T04:49:47+00:00April 24th, 2015|Categories: Gratitude, Initiation, Mercy, Reciprocation|

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati chastising Srila Prabhupada

Source: How shall I serve you?

Once in a room with many disciples, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī was speaking and Abhay listening when an old man beside Abhay motioned to him. As Abhay leaned over to hear what the man wanted, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta suddenly spoke out in annoyance at the two apparently inattentive students. “Bābū,” he first addressed the old man beside Abhay, “do you think you have purchased me with your 150-rupees-per-month donation?” And then, turning to Abhay: “Why don’t you come up here and speak instead of me?” Abhay was

light-of-godhead2015-05-25T00:06:46+00:00April 21st, 2015|Categories: Chastisement, Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati|

We are very insignificant

Speaker: Vaiyasaki dasa
Source: Radha-Damodara Vilasa

Recognizing Tamal Krsna’s organizational ability, Prabhupada spends a lot of time training him in management skills. Tamal begins to think that he is getting special attention beyond that of the other devotees. Whenever the spiritual master detects false pride in a disciple he is always quick to rectify the anartha. Prabhupada brings this up in a gentle way when Tamal brings over Muralidhara’s new painting of the Bhagavatam cover for approval.

As Prabhupada studies the painting, he begins to point out the different features

light-of-godhead2015-10-07T21:22:15+00:00April 10th, 2015|Categories: Chastisement, Humility, Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, Stories, Tamal Krishna Goswami|