Sharing Some Thoughts with a Friend

Dear X,

The Truth being the authority is simply a way of saying not to trust too readily just anyone who may have the external trappings of authority, spiritual or otherwise. Power, money, politics and diplomacy are the ways of the material world. isvarah sarva bhutnam hrd deshe 'rjuna tisthati... tam eva saranam gaccha sarva bhavena bharata (Bg. 18.61 and 62). Lord Krsna gave you a brain and a heart so don't vegetate, use them in His service and trust no one who does not speak and act exactly from sastra AND previous authority. Ultimately our tiny insect-like lives are not that serious. Me, I just like to make people, and especially devotees, think for themselves. Not all do. But even if a few do it, that will be a great victory for truth. Study Prabhupada's books deeply and don't be allured by nice stories, fancy acts and propaganda. Just because you noticed some emotions in me when I chanted my japa does not make me anything special. Plenty of drama actors can cry real tears and show very believable emotions at will.

You are a good boy X and I like you and have genuine affection for you. So, be blessed and in this life please wrap up this miserable existence in the material world. Be yourself, don't aspire to imitate anyone, ever great preachers. Devotee means no independent desire.

"Whatever You want of me, my Lord, let that be."

That is the path of freedom from fear.

Your aspiring servant always,

Ananda

Advanced? Who is advanced?

Who is actually advanced in devotional service? That’s a tricky question. The pat and often heard answer goes something like this, “I am lower than a worm in stool and if someone hears my name he will go to hell...” and so on and so forth — that is a very popular line promoted by kanisthas for kanisthas. That answer is cheap imitation of great souls like Krsnadas Kaviraj Gosvami who wrote it in Caitanya Caritamrita. So, let's consider the circumstances under which it was written. Krsnadas Kaviraj is an eternal associate of the Lord and he expressed those feelings writing under the personal auspices and request of the Gosvamis in Vrindavana having been sent there by the direct order of Lord Nityananda in a dream who told him, “O My dear Krsnadas, do not be afraid, go to Vrindavana for there you will attain all things.” And off he went the very next morning, an old man on foot all the way from Bengal to Vrindavana -- but his heart brimming over with love of Krsna. Because that love is so overwhelming, so unimaginable and utterly undeserved, and because Krsna’s extraordinary beauty moves like huge waves in an ocean knocking one repeatedly head over heels, experiencing such great fortune one perforce feels totally undeserving, humble and small. Thus, speaking of humility, that’s the real deal. It is unthinkable and offensive to pretend to be on that level. And anyone who does so is a cheater, a rascal. Avoid his association like the plague.

kanistha = a devotee on the beginning platform of devotion, overly concerned with the external rituals and accouterments of spiritual life and unable to properly evaluate real spiritual advancement.

Some Thoughtful Words from Srila Prabhupada

"Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that 'This man should be the next acharya.’ But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be acharya. That is the failure. They never thought, 'Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acharya?’ They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acharya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it.They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection." (Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation,16 August 1976, Bombay)

Radhastami -- The Auspicious Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani

"Even though tightly embraced by Rukminidevi in a jeweled palace in Dvaraka on the shore of the ocean, Krsna, remembering the fragrance of Radharani's transcendental presence within a grove on the enchanting banks of the Yamuna river, suddenly fainted." (Ujjvala Nilamani, by Rupa Gosvami)

Rukminidevi = Krsna's chief queen in Dvaraka
Dvaraka = Krsna's capital city on the shore of the Western Indian Ocean
Yamuna river = Situated in Vrndavana where Krsna manifested His most intimate loving pastimes

A poetic offering to my Guru

Vyasa Puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada 2007

1. The mercy you bestow is beyond compare.You make the impossible possible and you stand alone as the supreme patita pavana.
2. In your presence all sins take flight. By your mercy the most sinful are purified. How can anyone compare with you?
3. Bathing in the Ganges and similar rituals purify only after prolonged practice. But in a moment, just by your glance, the heart is cleansed.
4. The chanting of the holy name excuses even a direct offender to the supreme Lord Krsna. But to offend you is certain spiritual suicide.
5. Packed safely within your heart Krsna came to the West. From that residence He spoke, He wrote, He taught, He sang, He cooked -- all through you.
6. Spiritual choices sweetly beckon me to Krsna's side -- frolic and play in Gokula, love and fight in Dvaraka, chant and dance in Navadvipa? What do I want? Sincerely, all I want is to become worthy to be with you, life after life.

Your insignificant servant

Ananda Svarupa dasa

patita pavana = one who can purify the fallen souls.
Goloka = Krsna's intimate abode where He plays as a cowherd boy.
Dvaraka = Krsna's capital city where He reigns a warrior king.
Navadvipa = Where Krsna appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach the chanting of His holy names as the principal religious principle for the current era.

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