Today on the auspicious disappearance day of dear most powerful and most excellent;
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Śrīla Prabhupāda. His most valuable teachings...
"In what state of mind Kirtana of Hari should be chanted...
The sadhu,' Sri Guru' helps the fallen jiva to regain his natural state of freedom from sin; by the constant service of bringing about the descent of transcendental sound in the form of words uttered by his lips and the mahaprasada in the shape of food that is offered by him to the Lord. The sound uttered by the sadhu and the mahaprasada are not things of this world. They are not identical with ordinary sound or ordinary food which are only means for the gratification of our sensuous appetites. The word of God and mahaprasada cannot be enjoyed, or in other words cannot be used for the gratification of the senses, because they are spiritual.
Those who enjoy the kirtana, or any spiritual discourse, or eat the mahaprasada for appeasing hunger or for gratification of the palate are guilty of sacrilegious acts which serve only to prolong the state of sin and ignorance. This is the greatest possible calamity that can befall the human soul.
The kirtana of Hari is the constant and natural function of all the faculties of the jiva soul in the state of it's freedom from all affinities with this changeable world. Because the absolute truth is identical with Hari, Hari has to be served exclusively, constantly, and by all the faculties of the soul. The only function of the voice is to chant the kirtana of Hari, which is identical with and inseparable from the simultaneous service of Hari by all the other senses. One who does not employ his voice constantly and exclusively in chanting the kirtana of Hari has no access to the service of Hari by any other faculty.
The kirtana of Hari has therefore to be chanted by being humbler than a blade of grass. There can be no trace of worldly vanity (such for self interest, collecting money and own popularity in the name of Hari).
"Everyone is eager for adoration by others, not for the absolute truth. Those who make a show of being preachers do not disturb mankind, but rather maintain everyone's present mentality while busily protecting their own existence...
Therefore there is no propagation of the truth, since one's popularity is not served by speaking or hearing the truth. Pure items are rare and not easily attainable, and so are not much appreciated. Similarly, there is no respect for those who do not misguide people but are busy trying through saṅkīrtana and Hari-kathā to turn them toward the Lord.
At present it is fashionable to be cheated by those who in the name of dharma misguide people.
Real devotees do not speak to satisfy their audiences. They do not cheat people. Rather, pure devotees reveal the defects of cheaters who love to compromise. Only fortunate persons learn to be cautious after hearing the words of saints. Although the words of genuine devotees may appear to contradict our present taste and experience, nonetheless they are most auspicious for us.
" There can be no seeking after any worldly advantage. The only object should be to please Lord Hari!"
By: His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Jagad Guru Śrīla Prabhupada
Comments
"So now, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa and Caitanya Mahāprabhu and in the presence of my Guru Mahārāja, you are so nice boys and girls. So in front of Caitanya Mahāprabhu you are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and you are taking part in it very seriously. So my Guru Mahārāja will be very, very much pleased upon you and bless you with all benefits. (break)
So he wanted this, and he is not. . . It is not that he is dead and gone. That is not spiritual understanding. Even ordinary living being, he does not die. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). And what to speak of such exalted, authorized personality like Bhaktisiddhānta. He is seeing. I never feel that I am alone. Of course, when I came to your country without any friend, without any means. . . Practically, just like a vagabond I came. But I had full faith that "My Guru Mahārāja is with me." I never lost this faith. And that is fact. There are two words, vāṇī and vapuḥ. Vānī means words, and vapuḥ means this physical body. So vāṇī is more important than the vapuḥ. Vapuḥ will be finished. This is material body. It will be finished. That is the nature. But if we keep to the vāṇī, to the words of spiritual master, then we remain very fixed up. It doesn't matter."