Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja ki jaya

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah

Sri Acarya-vani and Its Glories--
This year at Sri Gaura-Purnima, a delighted host of Bengali devotees greeted the publication of "A Wreath of Letters (Patravali)". Containing over 50 letters from Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja, it is only the first of an enormous series. So rich with wisdom and inspiration were those letters that I could not possibly resist sharing them. Truly, my mortal words are crippled in trying to express their beauty. I simply submit the words of our Sri Parama-gurudeva, which he penned in an explanation of a letter he had received from Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati:

"Reaching past their scriptural explanations (patha), speeches, and articles, the letters of the Mahajanas truly touch the heart. Of course, their direct instructions are different. Though addressed to particular persons, their letters are imbued with such potency of thought (cetana-sakti) that they attract souls from all backgrounds and easily lead them to the path of auspiciousness."

Note: These are only informal, unedited drafts that I am sharing with you, my friends.
Also, as I post each letter, I will move the previous one to my blog window.

Letter #2

“Sri Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas Certainly Accept Our Offerings”

Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah

Addressed to:
Sri Gaura-govinda Matha,
Gosani Road, Dinhata (Kochbihar)
12/8/1971


With affection,
I can see that you were greatly overjoyed to receive my letter and read the rambling of this madman. You expressed how fortunate you felt, yet simultaneously manifested your natural humility.

When any sadhaka or sadhika surrenders to a genuine guru and immerses themselves in Sri Hari-bhajana, no disqualification of theirs can create any obstacle on the path of their sadhana. However, it is certainly true that along with one’s sadhana one must also seek divine mercy. Then one can attain perfection in sadhana. The eternal, pure, ever-existent, transcendental soul can attain the object of worship, the Lord. Such attainment is possible by purifying the body and mind. Only similar beings can unite; thus only the unborn, eternal soul can achieve the company of Adhoksaja Sri Bhagavan and immerse himself in the bliss of serving Him.
Five months ago I left Navadvipa and have been preaching since; so far there has been nothing of the likeliness of rest. But of course, there is no such thing as a “break from service” for the servant. In the realm of service, there is no “concession” or “commission”; service only results in more service. Even the greatest liberated personalities are forever worshipping Sri Bhagavan and are immersed in His service. For these reasons, under no circumstances can the sevaka or sevika ever expect a break from their service. The Lord’s glorious lotus feet free one from all sorrow, fear and mortality; surrender at those feet is true solace. And that is what the Vaisnava Mahajanas pray for:

asoka-abhaya-amrta-adhara tomara carana-dvaya
tahate ekona visrama labhiya chadinu bhavera bhaya
I have found solace at Your feet, the basis of all joy, fearlessness and immortality, and I have given up all fear of wordly life.

I understand the anxiety in your heart regarding offerings you submit to the Lord. I hope my words succeed in pacifying this worry of yours. At present, during the summer, do you not offer mangoes, licus and other delicious fruits to the deity? If you are submitting such appropriate offerings, then you have certainly attained the fruit of directly serving the Lord. Therefore, it is not proper that you should feel “pained by your inability to submit offerings in true servitude”. Sri Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas accept everything offered to them. The scriptures specifically instruct us to worship with this conviction. I also have accepted what you give me, both directly and indirectly. Just as one truly sees the Lord’s form by transcendental descriptions, the worship of Sri Hari and Guru is also better performed indirectly. When the yajna-patnis expressed their desire to stay with Sri Krsna, He told them, “You should stay at a distance and glorify My name, form, qualities and forms; your auspiciousness lies there. Here, separation surpasses meeting. This is what Sri Bhagavan wanted the wives of the brahmanas to understand.
Often, there is too large a possibility of offense when a person attains direct darsana of the Lord. An English saying, “Too much familiarity breeds contempt,” proves this. For this reason, although close association of Guru and Vaisnavas has not been forbidden, we must carefully consider the statement, “vando mui savadhana mate—I worship those feet with great caution”. We must carefully discern which type of service will be more fruitful: direct or indirect. In this regard, the words of Sadhus, Sri Guru and the scriptures are the best guides. Their conclusions are applicable for all at all times. There is no doubt that you have attained the glorious result of direct service by your indirect worship. Do not let yourself be disturbed by contrary thoughts. I hope you have been able to grasp what I wish to say.

Your ever-well wisher,
Sri Bhaktivedanta Vamana