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Guru Tatva
GURU-TATTVA
15.07.2002, Watford, UK
Tomorrow Gurudeva is leaving this place and returning to Vraja-mandala. All sastras stress again and again the same point:
nayam atma pravacanena labhyo
na medhaya na bahudha srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas
tasyaisa atma vivsnute tanuh svam (Katha Upanisad 1.2.23)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the absolute and transcendental truth, is beyond all sense perception, beyond all kinds of thoughts, intelligence and philosophy. There is nothing, but nothing, we can do to realize that Supreme Absolute Truth, nothing at all. The Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself to whomever He wants to reveal Himself-only that person can realize Him. No one else has a chance. The Supreme Lord has all rights reserved. No one can dictate to Him-“I will realize You, I will understand You”-not even His name, what to speak of His form, qualities and pastimes. His name is Acyuta, inconceivable. No one can understand. You can go on chanting and chanting, and still you can never understand even His name, what to speak of anything else. Who can understand? That person who has dedicated body, mind, words, all heart’s feelings, everything, totally at the lotus feet of Sri Guru-he can understand, no one else.
How is the supreme mood is perceived?
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami (Brahma-samhita 5.38)
Syamasundara is playing like an ordinary boy, but He is not ordinary. Acintya-guna-svarupam-He is the embodiment of all kinds of inconceivable potencies, all kinds of inconceivable beauty. His potency is there. What potency? Yogamaya. Yogamaya means aghatana-ghatana patiyasi sakti-the power to make the impossible possible. Krsna is so sweet and attractive while He plays upon His flute. Stones melt, water becomes solid, trees tremble and cry tears in the form of honey from their branches. Everything changes its nature. Someone will say, “Oh, that is impossible. How is it possible to be so beautiful?” Yes, it is impossible. Therefore: syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam. His qualities are inconceivable, and His sakti Yogamaya, the power to make the impossible possible, makes Him so impossibly beautiful, no one can imagine. It is impossible to be that beautiful. Yes, we agree. That is why He has Yogamaya. Yogamaya shows His most attractive form. His nama is acintya, His form is acintya, His qualities are acintya, His lilas are all acintya. So how will we understand? Only by the mercy of Guru.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote:
vaisnava avedane krsna doyamoya
e heno pamara prati ha’bena sadoya
I have heard that Krsna is causelessly merciful, but when is He so kind? When Gurudeva or any pure Vasinava prays to Krsna on our behalf, Krsna showers His mercy unlimitedly. So unless we have sambandha, very thick relationship, with Sad Guru, though Krsna is causelessly merciful, still we cannot realize anything. We should not try to circumvent the process, to make a new path, a shortcut or a detour. There is only one way-sri guru carana padma kevala bhakati sadma. This is the only place you can find this bhakti.
Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena. Anjana means when Guru gives kajjala on your eyes, at that time you can see Krsna. This Guru-Tattva is everywhere in sastra-vede gaya yahara carito. All the Vedas are singing the glories of Sad Guru:
yasya deva para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
You can read sastra all day, and after some time you will become bored. No taste is coming. When is sastra full of rasa? Yasya deva para bhaktir, yatha deve tatha gurau. When we have spontaneous love and attachment for the lotus feet of Guru. At that time, when you open sastra and read, all the meanings will jump off the page and dance in your heart. This is the process. Original Guru-Tattva is Baladeva Prabhu or Nityananda Prabhu. In Their pastimes they have shown us how we can overcome all obstacles and attain Krsna-prema. We know that now in our life we have many obstacles, internal and external, it seems. How will we cross over them? Only by Guru-krpa.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was staying in his home like a prisoner. He wanted to be with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but his father was keeping him under guard. Again and again he tried to run away, but his father sent soldiers after him to bring him back. His mother even suggested, “We should put him in chains,” but his father did not consent. They tried to bind him by something heavier than chains-wife, very beautiful, like Miss Universe. This bondage is heavier than chains. They tried everything. I think that none of us have as many problems as Raghunatha dasa had. Who is stopping you from going to India for Kartika? Who is stopping you from being with Gurudeva? When you go to see Gurudeva, are soldiers chasing you down with horses and bringing you back? No.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had very formidable obstacles, and he had so much greed also. One day he heard that Nityananda Prabhu had come very nearby to Panihati. Raghunatha was living in Krsna-pura, Adi-Saptagram, on one side of the Ganga, and not very far away, on the other side of the Ganga, was Panihati. He took permission from his father and went there-with some guards also. He saw Nityananda Prabhu sitting beneath a banyon tree on the bank of the Ganga, surrounded by thousands of associates-Raghava Pandita, Uddharana Thakura and others. They were doing kirtana. Nityananda Prabhu looked so beautiful. Why? Uddharana Thakura was the leader of the Suvarna Vanika community (goldsmiths) and they had covered Him in jewels and gold and necklaces, bracelets, finger-rings, toe-rings and anklebells, and a big turban with jewels all over it. He was intoxicated in Krsna-prema, absorbed completely in the mood of Dau Baiya, Baladeva.
Upon seeing Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami offered pranama from far away. One of Nityananda Prabhu’s associates said, “O Prabhu! Raghunatha dasa is here.” Then Nityananda Prabhu showed some anger-externally-but internally He was not angry. Nityananda Prabhu called out to him, “Hey, come here, you! You thief!” Raghunatha dasa tried to get away, but Nityananda Prabhu had very long arms down to His knees-just for catching those who try to run away. He caught Raghunatha, and by force put His feet on his head, saying, “You are a thief, because you are trying to take away My property-the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-without Me.” This means that any independent measure to attain Krsna cannot be successful. If you are not making your heart one with Guru, this is like stealing. Your endeavors can never be successful. Even if you are as greedy as Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, still you can not even leave your household life. Any independent endeavor will fail completely. Nityananda Prabhu said, “Why are you trying to take My property? You should come to Me first. I will punish you. This is your sentence-you must make a feast for all My associates.”
Raghunatha collected so many preparations and made a chipped rice festival on the bank of the Ganga. Soon thousands and thousands of people came and there was no space. They were even standing in the Ganges and eating in the water. What is the teaching? If we want to please Guru and come close to his heart, we will have to serve the Vaisnavas. Gurudeva said today in his lecture, “Service of Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu starts here, now, in this world. Please Guru and Vaisnavas.” At that time Nityananda Prabhu was absorbed in the mood of Baladeva. He sat down. Now They have come to take a picnic on the bank of Yamuna with Kanhai-Balaiya and Kanhaiya together. But where was Kanhaiya? He was not there. Kanhaiya had come in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He was quite far away in Jagannatha Puri. Nityananda Prabhu was sitting in meditation: “O Kanhaiya. Kothai Kanhaiya? O My dear brother, where are You?” There and then-everyone could not see, but this boy Raghunatha could see.. That young boy, who was about 18 years old, saw the beautiful golden form of Mahaprabhu appear there-His form was soft like butter, with nice gopi-candana tilaka on His body and beautiful lotus eyes, His cloth the color of the rising sun, and embracing with Nityananda Prabhu.
Then what were Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu doing? They were daincing and eating a little remnant from the plate of each devotee and feeding the other One. Why? In any other lila-Narayana-lila, Nrsimhadeva-lila, in Dvaraka, in Mathura-this is impossible. The Supreme Lord does not take the remnants of His devotee. But now, Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu are laughing and taking the remnants from the plates of all the devotees and feeding them to each other. What does it mean? It means-Forever, no barrier between Me and you. I want you to be with Me and close to Me and like Me and equal to Me, and more than Me. You are My heart and soul.” This kind of love for Krsna is only in Vrndavana, not anywhere else. Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are breaking down all walls and barriers, all aisvarya, and saying, “Be close to Me.” And Raghunatha dasa was watching, and after some time, Mahaprabhu disappeared. Then Nityananda Prabhu told him, “O Raghunatha, you are fortunate. Mahaprabhu Himself came here today for you! Soon all your obstacles will be gone and you will meet with Him.” This is Guru-Tattva! Nityananda Prabhu is akanda-guru-tattva.
This boy Raghunatha could not sleep at night, and he never took any luxurious things. He was from the most wealthy family-they were multi-millionaires. But he never took any nice cloth, he never ate any tasty delicious food, he never even went inside his house-he slept outside in the Durga mandapa-and at night he could not even sleep, because His heart was so eager and anxious to meet with Mahaprabhu. So he came to Nitai. Nityananda Prabhu was observing his eagerness. Seeing that he could not live, Nityananda Prabhu, only by meditation, was praying, “O Kanhaiya, where are You?” There and then He came and gave Raghunatha dasa Gosvami darsana. This is called Guru-Tattva. When you will be like this-never taking any nice cloth, any comfortable situation, any good food, and unable to sleep at night, then Guru will see your eagerness. His heart will melt at your desire and sincerity. Only by meditation, Gurudeva will call Radha and Krsna, who will then come in your heart. This is how to realize transcendental truth. There is no other way.
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto’pi
There is no other way! When Guru feels sorry for you, “Now my disciple is very anxious. I think he cannot stay in this world much longer. I have to save his life.” Like Mother Yasoda. When she saw the milk was boiling over-actually the milk was not boiling. Milk was thinking, “I have no chance to serve Krsna. He is only taking Mother Yasoda’s breast milk-and it is endless. I have no chance to serve, so I will kill myself at once.” And the milk was jumping in the fire. Then Mother Yasoda put Krsna down and came running, “Oh, don’t be upset.” She sprinkled some water on the milk and it stopped boiling over. So here Mother Yasoda is also like Guru-Tattva. When we will be like that milk, unable to live without the service of our istadeva, Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda Bihari, Gurudeva will give up his own service and come running to sprinkle some water on us. This is svarupa-siddhi katha. Sometimes, when the disciple is very qualified, Guru will tell this katha-this is the sprinkling of water-to save the disciple’s life.
15.07.2002, Watford, UK
Tomorrow Gurudeva is leaving this place and returning to Vraja-mandala. All sastras stress again and again the same point:
nayam atma pravacanena labhyo
na medhaya na bahudha srutena
yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas
tasyaisa atma vivsnute tanuh svam (Katha Upanisad 1.2.23)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the absolute and transcendental truth, is beyond all sense perception, beyond all kinds of thoughts, intelligence and philosophy. There is nothing, but nothing, we can do to realize that Supreme Absolute Truth, nothing at all. The Supreme Personality of Godhead reveals Himself to whomever He wants to reveal Himself-only that person can realize Him. No one else has a chance. The Supreme Lord has all rights reserved. No one can dictate to Him-“I will realize You, I will understand You”-not even His name, what to speak of His form, qualities and pastimes. His name is Acyuta, inconceivable. No one can understand. You can go on chanting and chanting, and still you can never understand even His name, what to speak of anything else. Who can understand? That person who has dedicated body, mind, words, all heart’s feelings, everything, totally at the lotus feet of Sri Guru-he can understand, no one else.
How is the supreme mood is perceived?
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami (Brahma-samhita 5.38)
Syamasundara is playing like an ordinary boy, but He is not ordinary. Acintya-guna-svarupam-He is the embodiment of all kinds of inconceivable potencies, all kinds of inconceivable beauty. His potency is there. What potency? Yogamaya. Yogamaya means aghatana-ghatana patiyasi sakti-the power to make the impossible possible. Krsna is so sweet and attractive while He plays upon His flute. Stones melt, water becomes solid, trees tremble and cry tears in the form of honey from their branches. Everything changes its nature. Someone will say, “Oh, that is impossible. How is it possible to be so beautiful?” Yes, it is impossible. Therefore: syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam. His qualities are inconceivable, and His sakti Yogamaya, the power to make the impossible possible, makes Him so impossibly beautiful, no one can imagine. It is impossible to be that beautiful. Yes, we agree. That is why He has Yogamaya. Yogamaya shows His most attractive form. His nama is acintya, His form is acintya, His qualities are acintya, His lilas are all acintya. So how will we understand? Only by the mercy of Guru.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote:
vaisnava avedane krsna doyamoya
e heno pamara prati ha’bena sadoya
I have heard that Krsna is causelessly merciful, but when is He so kind? When Gurudeva or any pure Vasinava prays to Krsna on our behalf, Krsna showers His mercy unlimitedly. So unless we have sambandha, very thick relationship, with Sad Guru, though Krsna is causelessly merciful, still we cannot realize anything. We should not try to circumvent the process, to make a new path, a shortcut or a detour. There is only one way-sri guru carana padma kevala bhakati sadma. This is the only place you can find this bhakti.
Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena. Anjana means when Guru gives kajjala on your eyes, at that time you can see Krsna. This Guru-Tattva is everywhere in sastra-vede gaya yahara carito. All the Vedas are singing the glories of Sad Guru:
yasya deva para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
You can read sastra all day, and after some time you will become bored. No taste is coming. When is sastra full of rasa? Yasya deva para bhaktir, yatha deve tatha gurau. When we have spontaneous love and attachment for the lotus feet of Guru. At that time, when you open sastra and read, all the meanings will jump off the page and dance in your heart. This is the process. Original Guru-Tattva is Baladeva Prabhu or Nityananda Prabhu. In Their pastimes they have shown us how we can overcome all obstacles and attain Krsna-prema. We know that now in our life we have many obstacles, internal and external, it seems. How will we cross over them? Only by Guru-krpa.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was staying in his home like a prisoner. He wanted to be with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but his father was keeping him under guard. Again and again he tried to run away, but his father sent soldiers after him to bring him back. His mother even suggested, “We should put him in chains,” but his father did not consent. They tried to bind him by something heavier than chains-wife, very beautiful, like Miss Universe. This bondage is heavier than chains. They tried everything. I think that none of us have as many problems as Raghunatha dasa had. Who is stopping you from going to India for Kartika? Who is stopping you from being with Gurudeva? When you go to see Gurudeva, are soldiers chasing you down with horses and bringing you back? No.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had very formidable obstacles, and he had so much greed also. One day he heard that Nityananda Prabhu had come very nearby to Panihati. Raghunatha was living in Krsna-pura, Adi-Saptagram, on one side of the Ganga, and not very far away, on the other side of the Ganga, was Panihati. He took permission from his father and went there-with some guards also. He saw Nityananda Prabhu sitting beneath a banyon tree on the bank of the Ganga, surrounded by thousands of associates-Raghava Pandita, Uddharana Thakura and others. They were doing kirtana. Nityananda Prabhu looked so beautiful. Why? Uddharana Thakura was the leader of the Suvarna Vanika community (goldsmiths) and they had covered Him in jewels and gold and necklaces, bracelets, finger-rings, toe-rings and anklebells, and a big turban with jewels all over it. He was intoxicated in Krsna-prema, absorbed completely in the mood of Dau Baiya, Baladeva.
Upon seeing Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami offered pranama from far away. One of Nityananda Prabhu’s associates said, “O Prabhu! Raghunatha dasa is here.” Then Nityananda Prabhu showed some anger-externally-but internally He was not angry. Nityananda Prabhu called out to him, “Hey, come here, you! You thief!” Raghunatha dasa tried to get away, but Nityananda Prabhu had very long arms down to His knees-just for catching those who try to run away. He caught Raghunatha, and by force put His feet on his head, saying, “You are a thief, because you are trying to take away My property-the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-without Me.” This means that any independent measure to attain Krsna cannot be successful. If you are not making your heart one with Guru, this is like stealing. Your endeavors can never be successful. Even if you are as greedy as Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, still you can not even leave your household life. Any independent endeavor will fail completely. Nityananda Prabhu said, “Why are you trying to take My property? You should come to Me first. I will punish you. This is your sentence-you must make a feast for all My associates.”
Raghunatha collected so many preparations and made a chipped rice festival on the bank of the Ganga. Soon thousands and thousands of people came and there was no space. They were even standing in the Ganges and eating in the water. What is the teaching? If we want to please Guru and come close to his heart, we will have to serve the Vaisnavas. Gurudeva said today in his lecture, “Service of Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu starts here, now, in this world. Please Guru and Vaisnavas.” At that time Nityananda Prabhu was absorbed in the mood of Baladeva. He sat down. Now They have come to take a picnic on the bank of Yamuna with Kanhai-Balaiya and Kanhaiya together. But where was Kanhaiya? He was not there. Kanhaiya had come in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He was quite far away in Jagannatha Puri. Nityananda Prabhu was sitting in meditation: “O Kanhaiya. Kothai Kanhaiya? O My dear brother, where are You?” There and then-everyone could not see, but this boy Raghunatha could see.. That young boy, who was about 18 years old, saw the beautiful golden form of Mahaprabhu appear there-His form was soft like butter, with nice gopi-candana tilaka on His body and beautiful lotus eyes, His cloth the color of the rising sun, and embracing with Nityananda Prabhu.
Then what were Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu doing? They were daincing and eating a little remnant from the plate of each devotee and feeding the other One. Why? In any other lila-Narayana-lila, Nrsimhadeva-lila, in Dvaraka, in Mathura-this is impossible. The Supreme Lord does not take the remnants of His devotee. But now, Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu are laughing and taking the remnants from the plates of all the devotees and feeding them to each other. What does it mean? It means-Forever, no barrier between Me and you. I want you to be with Me and close to Me and like Me and equal to Me, and more than Me. You are My heart and soul.” This kind of love for Krsna is only in Vrndavana, not anywhere else. Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are breaking down all walls and barriers, all aisvarya, and saying, “Be close to Me.” And Raghunatha dasa was watching, and after some time, Mahaprabhu disappeared. Then Nityananda Prabhu told him, “O Raghunatha, you are fortunate. Mahaprabhu Himself came here today for you! Soon all your obstacles will be gone and you will meet with Him.” This is Guru-Tattva! Nityananda Prabhu is akanda-guru-tattva.
This boy Raghunatha could not sleep at night, and he never took any luxurious things. He was from the most wealthy family-they were multi-millionaires. But he never took any nice cloth, he never ate any tasty delicious food, he never even went inside his house-he slept outside in the Durga mandapa-and at night he could not even sleep, because His heart was so eager and anxious to meet with Mahaprabhu. So he came to Nitai. Nityananda Prabhu was observing his eagerness. Seeing that he could not live, Nityananda Prabhu, only by meditation, was praying, “O Kanhaiya, where are You?” There and then He came and gave Raghunatha dasa Gosvami darsana. This is called Guru-Tattva. When you will be like this-never taking any nice cloth, any comfortable situation, any good food, and unable to sleep at night, then Guru will see your eagerness. His heart will melt at your desire and sincerity. Only by meditation, Gurudeva will call Radha and Krsna, who will then come in your heart. This is how to realize transcendental truth. There is no other way.
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto’pi
There is no other way! When Guru feels sorry for you, “Now my disciple is very anxious. I think he cannot stay in this world much longer. I have to save his life.” Like Mother Yasoda. When she saw the milk was boiling over-actually the milk was not boiling. Milk was thinking, “I have no chance to serve Krsna. He is only taking Mother Yasoda’s breast milk-and it is endless. I have no chance to serve, so I will kill myself at once.” And the milk was jumping in the fire. Then Mother Yasoda put Krsna down and came running, “Oh, don’t be upset.” She sprinkled some water on the milk and it stopped boiling over. So here Mother Yasoda is also like Guru-Tattva. When we will be like that milk, unable to live without the service of our istadeva, Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda Bihari, Gurudeva will give up his own service and come running to sprinkle some water on us. This is svarupa-siddhi katha. Sometimes, when the disciple is very qualified, Guru will tell this katha-this is the sprinkling of water-to save the disciple’s life.
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