"While absorbed in exchange of love, Sri Hari was approached by forest deer who had witnessed His dancing pastime.Although the gopis felt despondent at their own condition, when they say the deer in the close proximity of Sri Krsna, they became hopeful.
"You may say, "I do not see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. How will I be able to know whether I am satisfying Him or dissatisfying Him ?"
It is mind-boggling to understand the mood of an Acarya! The following is an excerpt from His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's offering to his gurudev His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Takur Prabhupada, on the eve of his vyasa puja in Feb 1936.
"People do not stop to consider that they are actually working very hard for nothing. One who earns millions of pounds cannot really eat much more than a man who makes ten pounds.
If there is a very famous personality, and if someone knows that personality ,then there is nothing wonderful about that. But if that famous personality knows some ordinary person, then it is really something special for that ordinary person. This is the logic behind our love for the Sudama charithra in Srimad Bhagavatham.
Translation:My dear Lord, if in some place materialists ,who are already bewildered by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Godhead ,sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion ,does not take this seriously.Knowing that they commit offenses overpowered by the illusory energy,does not show his prowess to couteract them.
Srila Satsvarupa Maharaj, commenting on Bhag 4.28.50 in 'He Lives Forever - On Separation from Srila Prabhupada' further gives his grave realisations on this subject matter - the importance of which is quite often overlooked by a negligent disciple in pursuit of gross or subtle sense gratification. Such perpetual carelessness accounts for lack of seriousness on the part of disciple. Perpetual carelessness is not accidental - It is deliberate defiance to obey spiritual master's order. As such it renders the process and the purpose of initiation meaningless.
The son or disciple should accept the words of his spiritual master and father without hesitation. Whatever the father and the spiritual master order should be taken without argument: "Yes."
Sri Chaitanya describes four requisite qualities for successful chanting ( humility, tolerance, pridelessness, respect). Srila Bhakthivinoda Thakura explains that when the queen of Bhakthi appears in the heart, then saintly qualities manifest automatically like maidservants attending a queen.
Every one of us are living in fear , however well equiped we are, we all are awaiting our Death, it is only a matter of time. At the same time we all want to be "Fearless" atleast that is what everyone sincerely desires.
This is from a lecture of Srila Prabhupad about who is not suffering.Can anyone say that I am not suffering?There is no onein the world, those who are materially engaged, that can say boldly, I am not suffering. Is there anybody? I challenge anyone.
"Our material life is always miserable because it is full of Lamentation, Illusion, Fear and Ego."
"But on the other hand, our spiritual life is transcendentally blissful because it is full of Love, Inspiration, Freedom and Enthusiasm."
Here's a story from Mahanidhi Swami's Book 'Art of chanting Hare Krishna'. Just thought of sharing with all.Once a disciple asked his guru for the topmost secret of bhajana.
After clearing customs, Maharaj made his graceful appearance and hardly he had been in our midst, when he quickly settled down into business, preaching forcefully and launching salvos of firepower against Kali Yuga and its pernicious effects characterized by our habits of constant, bitter in-fightings and squabblings.
"Do we have to do something "big" to please Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada himself always tried to do big things to please his spiritual master and wanted us to do significant service also.
As long as a person is fully in cooperation with the wishes of the Lord, guided by the bona fide brahmanas and Vaisnavas and strictly following religious principles, one has no cause for despondency, however trying the circumstances of life.
Because you have been unable to give charity according to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish planets. Therefore, in accordance with the order of Sukracarya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there.
"Chanting with the distraction of my day to day life makes me want to get my rounds done. There is business to take care of and people to deal with. This is an offensive atttitude towards the holy name; it prevents me from loving Krsna in His naama rupa."
Our beloved Guru Maharaj gave extremely powerful instructions regarding the uprooting of our unlimited inebrieties which are all stumbling blocks in our way towards the ultimate goal of life which is love for Krishna and engaging in sincere devotional service.
One time when Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindavan. It was his last visit to New Vrindavan and devotees were giving him a tour of the house they were building for him which later became known as Srila Prabhupada's Palace of Gold.