“Recognising Vaisnavas.” Srila B. S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. 11 April 2007. Nabadwip Dham, India
English
“This is called Vaiṣṇava-saṅga—association of Vaiṣṇava.”
https://absolutesweetness.org/2022/01/25/23rd-j/#more-3771
https://absolutesweetness.podbean.com/e/070411-this-is-called-vaishnava-sangha/
Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj
Recognising Vaiṣṇavas
(11th April 2007. Nabadwīp Dhām, India)
Rough transcript / reader’s guide:
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: This morning I am seeing very beautiful gathering for ārati Mahāprabhu and Śrīla Gurudev. Also they come from ārati of Girirāj Govardhan, Sadāśiva Gaṅgādhara and here parikramā after ārati very nice atmosphere, and it was very peaceful, suddenly some disturbance also come—this is the world. We are actually not liberated, we are conditioned soul and we have kāma, krodha, lobha, mada, moha, mātsarya. And we always attacked by that, ṣaḍ-ripu, its called ṣaḍ-ripu. Ṣaḍ-ripu [in] English is six kind of enemy living within our body, ṣaḍ-ripu. Ripu means ‘enemy’. Nothing matter but coming quarreling through that. But Vaiṣṇava religion always avoiding this. Kṛṣṇa said,
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
(Bhagavad-gītā, 3.37)
Krodha coming from raja-guṇa, kāma from raja-guṇa and we not will be surrendered to raja-guṇa. Three guṇa also not good, sattva guṇa, raja guṇa, tama guṇa, it’s all is rope binding us with this material consciousness, existence, etc. If we will think we are sādhaka, we are practitioner, we are trying to practice, then we will be conscious about that. But it is not so easy, this qualification not will get in school college. It is only coming through pure devotees’ association. Pure devotee, to be a pure devotee, that’s also not so easy. Then difficulty always around us but we will tolerate and try to correct. That is the situation for us. Try to correct, first tolerate then try to correct.
Ānanda Vigraha Prabhu: The last few days you were taking something of the Rāmānanda-saṁvād, that verse specifically jñāne prayāsam udapasya [Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 10.14.3] and you are talking about hearing transcendental narrations from the devotee, san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya vārtām. That just now you told hearing from pure devotees and that verse ‘satām prasaṅgān mama vīrya saṁvido’ [Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 3.25.25], how do we know who is talking to us? The devotee who is qualified to tell us what they are trying to say… information…
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: This is very difficult, we do not know who is pure devotee. But something we have some idea. This quality and qualification, if anyone will hold, he is a devotee. First in the āśram we can consider, who is leaving other association and join in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is devotee, first we can consider this way. But devotee means fully devoted, it is not how much devoted that is depend, depending. How much they are devoted, that is depending upon their quality, for their quality. Then externally what we are seeing and our feelings coming about some Vaiṣṇava, he is qualified and he is a devotee.
And other thing is that when Gurudev, he is giving respect someone devotee, qualified devotee he is telling, and that we believe and will surrender to that, them. This is at present our situation and will be harmonised this way. But always will be conscious. If attentively we will read Jaiva-dharma, there also we will see so many bābājī, they are practicing, they are joining in the meeting, everything. But within there some one bābājī not doing properly. Then complaint coming against him and Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur said, “Bābājī, you must be savdhan, you must be careful, your behavior not good.”
Like that. But always everywhere some alloy will stay, no doubt. But percentage of devotional mood will give us some spiritual food. We know they do not know many things, but something they knows. That is surrender to Guru-Vaiṣṇava, surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Maybe they do not know who is pure Vaiṣṇava and who is half-Vaiṣṇava, alloyed-Vaiṣṇava. We cannot consider that way because we are not qualified to consider. Then which way we will consider? And not only that, it is very rare and it is very difficult to consider who is pure Vaiṣṇava and who is not. And that example given Kṛṣṇa Himself, when Rāja-sūya yajña happen, Kṛṣṇa Himself and so many muni, ṛṣi, etc., etc., everyone taken prasadam and Kṛṣṇa told to Bhīmasena and others. Bhīmasena noticed it little seriously but Kṛṣṇa told on the meeting,
“When this yajña will be finished, then ring the bell.”
But yajña finish, everyone satisfied with prasadam, everything, even Kṛṣṇa taken prasadam there. Then yajña is finally happened but bell not ringing. Then Bhīmasena asked to Kṛṣṇa,
“Why bell not ringing? You told bell will ring, bell will automatically sound. But not sound coming, why bell from the bell. Something is wrong there. What wrong? So many people taken prasadam, so many person but I think so someone pure Vaiṣṇava living near to Your prasada, Your mansion, in the jungle little far, maybe two furlong. Under the tree living one Vaiṣṇava. He not invited and he not took prasadam, that was not good. Maybe that is cause?”
Then Bhīmsena gone with Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and invited him. He is not going anywhere, not taking, but when he is invited by the Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, then he come to take prasadam. And Draupadī also so much opulent prasadam cook for him and he is very shaking, shyness, mixing all and taken. And Draupadī is not happy. She is thinking, “I cook for this Vaiṣṇava but Vaiṣṇava do not know how to eat this opulent prasadam I make for him.”
Anyhow, he taken prasadam and gone but bell not ring. Then Bhīmasena ask to Kṛṣṇa, “What happened?” Kṛṣṇa told, “Must be some offence happen.” Then ask everyone and Draupadī confess it is happen in my mind.
“Oh, that is the cause, again call him.”
And again call, Kṛṣṇa Arjuna calling, he must go and taking prasadam and ringing the bell,
“Doṅg, doṅg.”
Here I am giving example, who is Vaiṣṇava they do not know. And that Vaiṣṇava living next door to Yudhiṣṭira’s mansion, king’s mansion, he is living near, maybe two furlong or three furlongs. Vaiṣṇava, who is Vaiṣṇava, which way you will consider it? Very difficult. And Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur giving some solution to us. We why doing festival and distributing prasadam? Festival can do different way,
aja-yuddhe ṛṣi-śrāddhe
prabhāte megha-ḍambare
dampatya kalahe caiva
bahvārambhe laghu kriya
(Cāṇakya Paṇḍita—Nīti Śāstra)
Two goat when fight coming hit and smash but when coming to, then very slowly and took then go back. This is aja-yuddha, fighting goat this way, not hitting so much but coming so much energy, but when hitting, very slowly. Ṛṣi-śraddha, there is so many mantram, so many fire, so many this this this, feeding arrangement not so nice, maybe one sandeśa, one banana, that is ṛṣi-śraddha.
prabhāte megha-ḍambare…
In the morning the cloud giving so much sound, “Glurrr! Glurrr!” But not rain falling because morning cloud not giving rain.
prabhāte megha-ḍambare
dampatya kalahe caiva
Husband wife very much loudly quarreling but after two hours finish, everything is set, no quarrel. This is the indication given. Ṛṣi-śraddha, there is so much mantram and so many activity, religious activity, no feeding anything, small some plate. There Yudhiṣṭira Maharaj’s arrangement was so much and came so many.
Oh anyhow, what I want to say, that Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur told why we are doing prasada distribution, and full-belly prasadam we are giving to everyone who is coming. I can remember one, one day Guru Mahārāj asking me, “When I shall I die, how many people shall come to see me in my ceremony, death ceremony, how many people will come? You guess it.”
I told, “Maybe extremely one thousand, here is no so many people.”
But Guru Mahārāj smile and told, “No, it will be so much, you will see here ten thousand, like that.”
And I surprised, ten thousand people where we will get? But I believe, Guru Mahārāj told, must be. But that happen! When Guru Mahārāj’s festival we have done, then 11 o’clock tonight and so much opulent prasadam arrange. Why we are arranging the prasadam this way and distributing? Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur said externally it is happening for general people, they are taking food, getting some nourishment through food. But internally we want to feed anyone Vaiṣṇava. But 1,000 people join, maybe there is one Vaiṣṇava and if there Vaiṣṇava-sevā happen, our festival must be successful, we will think. 10,000 or 1,000, that is not a question. We are feeding so much, but if there is one Vaiṣṇava, that is sufficient for our good fortune. Then we will get Viśuddha-sukṛti, pure sukṛti, spiritual benefit. One Vaiṣṇava will take prasadam, we will get some spiritual benefit and that it pure. Anyway, this is we can see in the scriptures. Then question is Vaiṣṇava-sevā, Vaiṣṇava-saṅga and hearing from Vaiṣṇava, there is pure Vaiṣṇava if we will try to understand who pure Vaiṣṇava, we cannot understand.
vaiṣṇava cinite nāre devera śakati
mui kon chāra śiśu alpamati
(Śrīla Vṛndāvan Dās Ṭhākur)
It is written in the Vṛndāvan Dās Ṭhākur. Devatā, demigods, they cannot recognise who is Vaiṣṇava and which way I shall recognise who is Vaiṣṇava?
But something I know from the Vaiṣṇava, from the scriptures, from sādhu-guru and with that knowledge we will try to give our full honour to him. And procedure given Mahāprabhu Chaitanyadev, that is the best procedure. I shall not do anything wrong with anyone, humility tolerant and giving honour to others, this is I am telling always. And why telling always? Because we are always doing something wrong and we must avoid that wrong. If we have humility, then we not will be cause for anger for others. If we are tolerant, then anything will come to me I can tolerate and not will make any disturbance. And give honour to others means everyone’s have some ego, I do not want to disturb his ego. Then be humble and give honour to him. That honour everyone’s have some good quality and some honour and why I shall not give that? I shall give.
This way we shall try to go but it’s very difficult. We cannot always remember this. But forgetting, but again it is coming in our sense and again we will start, every time we will start newly, no problem for that. Forgot, forgot but now sense come back, then we will do again the good things. This way we will try to go. But must be careful one thing, avaiṣṇava and Vaiṣṇava. There carefully I shall proceed. Otherwise I will be cheated and I will be offender, both. And procedure I told, this is process is good. Not to hit others, anything he have quality, he enjoy with his quality, I am living with my quality and my jurisdiction, my zone. That is good. And what externally I know, internally may know something but externally we are seeing the quality of Vaiṣṇava and we will proceed that way carefully. Otherwise we will be loser and offender also sometimes. Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur told all,
āmi to’ durbhaga ati vaiṣṇava nā cini
more kṛpā koribena vaiṣṇava āpani
(Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur—Kalyāṇa Kalpataru, 2.6)
If I am humble, tolerant and giving honour to others, then automatically Vaiṣṇava’s attraction come to me and he will be merciful to me. Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur told, “I cannot recognise Vaiṣṇava because I have no that qualification but if I am a good boy, good man, then Vaiṣṇava will be merciful to me.” This Bhakti Vinod Thākur told.
āmi to’ durbhaga ati vaiṣṇava nā cini…
It is unfortunate I cannot recognise Vaiṣṇava but Vaiṣṇava is so merciful, if I am with some quality, Vaiṣṇava will see and he will be affectionate and merciful to me. This is your question’s answer. Question is for long time with everyone, this question, but something adjustment we will keep with that.
But ego is very dangerous thing, I am seeing, I am feeling, and I am disturbed with that also, always. But what shall I do? My mission is so big at present, then I am always trying to tolerate everything, no other way. But it is very good impression everyday morning I am getting in our āśram. They are singing ‘kṛpā-bindhu diyā’, they are singing ‘udilo aruṇa’, sometimes they are singing Vaiṣṇava glorification. Every day, ‘udilo aruṇa’, every day and all the principle devotee plus general devotee, they are doing parikramā, the temple parikramā. I am feeling so happy, happiness. But side by side always some worry-ness also working. Ha, ha. Quarreling always with us and behind us. Any chance will get, immediate activated. What you will do? Then give some slap and be quiet to spirit of quarreling, there you give slap. Not human but spirit of quarreling.
Research going so long time about this, so much research. Our so many āśram, everywhere some little disturbance, but our leader at present is very gentle and good, running nicely, little, little maybe, mainly very good. Śrīpād Goswāmī Mahārāj went to Australia, there also little quarrelling mood around, this way, but Mahārāj went there and was very happy to see spirit of the devotees. This is called Vaiṣṇava-sanga, association of Vaiṣṇava giving some joyful devotional spirit to the heart of the devotee. They’re eating, feeding, enjoying with mahā-prasadam and Saṅkīrtan. Mahārāj told, that festival day, full-up Nat-mandir, and after hearing I have got, I cannot walk, but joy coming in my heart to hear that, still they are going on the gathering of the devotee in Sunday feast, that is very good, and over flooded in Mexico I am getting every telephone, and around the telephone, forty, fifty devotee and they are giving big sound in telephone I am getting. But very difficult for me, they are expecting I am going, but actually I shall go or not? Not sure, but I want, it is truth, I wants to go, but I cannot walk.
Goswāmī Mahārāj: Paṅgum laṅghayate girim…
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Yes, Mahārāj, you see, I came from Kolkata, Kolkata there is some fixed position I have, twenty-four hours I have some arrangement, etc., engagement arrangement, but when come from Kolkata to Nabadwīp, here also place fixed, and I cannot go to Kolkata back. Every day thinking within two or three days I shall go, this way three, four, months pass. That means my health condition is very poor. Everyday thinking I can go or not, can go or not, and cannot go, and not feeling enthusiasm to go to Kolkata. And here, little disturbance sometimes, but that also not so noticeable, they are managing themselves. And very simple thing, Kolkata also there so disturbance, but they are very merciful to me, not giving that disturbance to me, here and Kolkata both place. They are observing and making solution.
Even I surprise, to give me relief, Śrīpād Avadhūt Maharaj come from Madras to Tirupati, to Kolkata, to Nabadwīp, only little relief to give me, for that purpose, otherwise not necessary if he not will do, he don’t care, but he not don’t care, he taken care, seriously, otherwise it is not so easy, Madras to Tirupati, to Kolkata, to Nabadwīp, Nabadwīp to Kolkata, to Madras. But they are very much affectionate and merciful to me I think. They are taking all the poison for them, and making me relief position.
Anyhow, Kṛṣṇa taking some energy, and they are giving much service to Kṛṣṇa’s mission. Here also I have not seen the Siliguri Maṭh, there is big Maṭh happen, but I have not seen that. Big building, very decorated and clean, and āśram there is seven room also, and deity, devotee, everything, but I have not got opportunity to go there. And long time I have not gone Puri, long time I am not there. That’s also need to go, once.
Janārdan Mahārāj: Siliguri is near Darjeeling?
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Yes, fifty km only. And looking very nice, from Siliguri you can see. That photo with me.
Devotee: Mahārāj, your flat also nice there.
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: My flat…
Devotee: Three room, attached bathroom…
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Where?
Janārdan Mahārāj: In Siliguri.
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Oh yes, yes…
Devotee: American style. Prabhāt Kṛṣṇa making that building American style…
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Acha?
Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj ki jaya!
All the devotees ki jaya!
Harinām Saṅkīrtan ki jaya!
Haridās Ṭhākur ki jaya!
Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh ki jaya!
Gaura Premānande!
Janardan Maharaj: Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj ki jaya! Aravinda Lochan ki jaya!
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Where is Aravinda?
Janārdan Mahārāj: He’s in Kolkata, today he’ll go Delhi.
Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj: Ah, first class photo, this camera given Janārdan Mahārāj, after thirty years maybe, not thirty, twenty-five years, I am using camera, before I use so much, so many cameras I have, but all gone, where gone I do not know, because I have no time to play with camera, but Mahārāj given, I am feeling it is very good…
Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇupād Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj ki jaya!
All the devotees ki jaya!
Harinām Saṅkīrtan ki jaya!
Haridās Ṭhākur ki jaya!
Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh ki jaya!
Gaura Premānande!
[Jaya Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj ki jaya!]
End notes:
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā
viddhy enam iha vairiṇam
(Bhagavad-gītā, 3.37)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.”
ṛṣi śraddha ajā yuddhe
prabhāte megha garjane
dampatya kalahe caiva
bahvārambhe laghu kriya
(Cāṇakya Paṇḍita—Nīti Śāstra)
The funeral ceremony of a sage who died in the forest, a fight between two goats, a thunder clap in the morning, a quarrel between husband and wife-all begin in grand style but the outcome is insignificant.
vaiṣṇava cinite nāre devera śakati
mui kon chāra śiśu alpamati
(Śrīla Vṛndāvan Dās Ṭhākur)
Even the gods are unable to recognise a Vaiṣṇava, so how can a foolish, fallen child like myself do so?
āmi to’ durbhaga ati vaiṣṇaba nā cini
more kṛpā koribena vaiṣṇaba āpani
(Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur—Kalyāṇa Kalpa-taru, 2.5)
I am very unfortunate. I do not understand who is actually a Vaiṣṇava. I pray that the Vaiṣṇavas will be merciful to me.
Some summary points:
· The six kinds of enemies (kāma, krodha, lobha, mada, moha, mātsarya)
· Krodha (anger) coming from Rajo-guṇa.
· Tri-guṇa is binding us.
· How can we tell who is qualified/pure devotee?
· Story of Rāja-sūya yajna
· We are feeding people at festivals so that we might serve a Vaiṣṇava who comes to the festival. This will give us pure sukṛti.
· Best procedure is humility, tolerance and giving honour to others.
· Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur says he cannot recognise who is Vaiṣṇava, but if he is ‘good boy’ then Vaiṣṇava will be merciful to him.
· Quarrelling always with us, but need to give slap to spirit of quarrelling.
· Gurudev speaks about going back and forth from Kolkata to Nabadwīp, and how he didn’t yet see the Siliguri Maṭh, and that it’s been a long time since going to Puri also.
Photo: 13th April 2007
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