Srimati Uma didi gave a one day class on 15 November 2009. Srimati Uma didi is a disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja. She has served her Guru Maharaja for many years including Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Maharaja and Srila Gurudeva, whom she has taken siksa from.
Below is the excerpt of the class from my own notes:
"In the scriptures, it is mentioned that when Hari-katha, topics related to Lord Krsna and His devotees, is going on, sun cannot enter. Sun-god is stealing our time. Upon sun set, our lifes become minus. One day passes and our life is diminishing.
When Hari-katha is going on, sun-god has no power to steal our time. Hari-katha means direct, no difference of nama, the holy names of the Lord and nami, the Lord Himself. Time becomes eternal.
When Hari-katha is going on, then Krsna must be present. Krsna will be present by the grace of Sri Guru. Krsna enters through our ears and enters our heart. With attentive listening, some mood will come. Krsna will clean our hearts. By speaking Hari-katha, it will make our heart and mind purified. Hari-katha is so powerful.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave instruction to everyone, including grhastha, householders, to first do Vaishnava seva, service to the devotees, Hari-seva, service to the Lord and Nagar-sankirtan, congregational chanting of the holy names.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to distribute harinama, holy names, to everyone. What is the benefit? If Hari-Sankirtan, congregtional chanting, is done by loudly singing, somehow the holy names is benefitting the trees, animals etc as sabda brahman, transcendental sound.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Srila Haridas Thakur and Sri Nityananda Prabhu to give harinama to everyone. He said, "Beg them to chant."
People used to give Srila Haridas Thakur and Sri Nityananda Prabu rice, etc, but Sri Nityananda Prabhu said He does not want any of these things. He only wants them to chant. Sri Nityananda Prabhu is guru-tattva, fundemental truths regarding Sri Guru.
Our Srila Gurudeva is going everywhere and preaching in his old age. Why? So that everyone will chant and become happy. Even if one person can be turned towards Krsna consciousness, then it is so great.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that we can be happy by chanting. Human life is full of miseries. Because of our past life sukriti, spiritual pious activities, we have come to Krsna consciousness. Then by more and more sukriti, taste for Hari-katha will come.
What does bhakti, devotion to the Lord, means? Bhakti means no desire for oneself. Gopi's , the cowherd girls in Vrindavan, speciality is only how to love and serve Sri Krsna. They have pranaya, thick love, for Krsna. Gopis never expect anything from Krsna. They only think how to serve Krsna. That is their aim and object.
One who does Krsna bhajan, devotion to Krsna, is always pleased and happy. Our aim and object should be to attain radha-dasyam, the service of Srimati Radhika.
But first practice:
vaco vegam manasah krodha vegam
jihva vegam udaropastha vegam
etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah
sarvam apimam prithivim sa sisyat
"A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world."
We must have strong faith in Sri Guru. Sincerely follow Sri Guru's instruction. Then realisation will come.
Once someone asked Srila Gurudeva whether mercy is the same for everyone? Srila Gurudeva said no. It is according to our surrender. If we want to be cheated, then we will be cheated by Sri Guru. We cannot do anything by our own effort.
So whatever instruction Sri Guru gives, follow it. First become guru-dasa, servant of Sri Guru, then Krsna-dasa, servant of Krsna, and then Radha-dasyam.
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