How much-how far, are we ready to embrace discomfort in the way of our Gaudiya bhajana

All glories to Śrī Śrī Guru Gauranga

How much-how far, are we ready to embrace discomfort in the way of our Gaudiya bhajana

Date 17.05.2025

Gauḍīya Goṣṭhī Pati Śrī Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda Paramahaṁsa Jagad Guru said that— “In this world of Māyā, averse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations, only patience, humility and respect for others are our best friends for hari-bhajana.”

saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-

trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam

prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya

vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam                          (Guru-aṣṭakam Verse 1)

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of divine qualities.

Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvāmī Mahārāj many times used to say that— “We are fire brigade man, so we cannot wait to extinguish the fire of Māyā, we will have to take prompt action to save those suffering bonded jīvas.” 

Really the whole world is on fire, but The Prabhupāda and all his eternal pārṣadas they are always ready to rescue all those burning jīvas from the heat of material saṁsāra.

Śrīla Baba Mahārāj is surely fully aware that by preaching bhakti siddhānta vāṇī one will have to face countless opposition, but still regardless of all such inconveniences he teaches us by his own example how to take a strong resolution even in spite of countless problems to preach that Absolute Truth with absolute patience, humility and respect. The true purport of “tṛṇād api sunīcena—is the feeling of extreme humbleness in spite of countless offerings like lābha-pūjā-pratiṣṭhā which roaming around a sādhu, like for example Śrīla Madhavendra Puripad, who wanted to avoid material lābha-puja-pratiṣṭhā in extreme way.” When Śrīla Vrindavan das Ṭhākura Mahāśaya wanted to say that, in spite of my continuous efforts to establish the eternal glories of the Lotus Feet of Śrīman Nityānanda Prabhu by representing so many evidences, still if somebody like to ignore and avoid Him then in that case I can kick on his head. As per Caitanya Bhagavat it is written—“tabe lathi mara tara sire upare”.

To speak about the Absolute Truth in front of this Godless society means to endure all the countless stones (in form of criticism and disrespect) which are thrown on all those who honestly try their best to preach bhakti siddhānta vāṇī.

Śrīla Sadananda Svami Mahārāj wrote in a letter to Vamandas 1958:

"Bhaktiyoga makes enjoyment impossible, because through Bhakti everything is used in the service, and it completely burns up all that is called man - except the atma. Only when You hide away this meaning, there will be something left that delights, enthuses man. If You give the Shastrams fully unveiled people will stone You, not invite You. [...] They will be really terrified when I open my mouth.”

Actually, those śuddha guru-Vaiṣṇavas—they are never affected by any kind of mundane praise or critic, because material sound can never touch their heart. They know that everything spoken by material people will just come and go like bubbles in the ocean. The only question is how much we are ready to embrace such kind of discomfort and opposition by following in the footsteps of our Sarasvat Gauḍīya guru-varga?

If we look in the life of all those great great ācāryas, how much opposition and discomfort they had to face for the sake of preaching about that Absolute Truth, then we surely can realise that this pathway is never decorated with roses and unicorns, rather it means like war against this whole Godless society. Śrīla Bhakti Rakshak Śrīdhar Dev Gosvāmī Mahārāj used to say that— “Our Guru Mahārāja was different. Like Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu, he wanted to attack Māyā and, like a great general, he declared totalitarian war on illusion and even all other existing conceptions of religion. ‘Why is there this misunderstanding and misconception?’ he thought. Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa: īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ. It is plain and simple and sweet. How can we think, ‘This is for me, that is for Him? Why should we let this misconception stand here at all? Attack it and crush the whole (misconception).”

Most of the previous ācāryas like Śrīla Rāmānuja Ācārya, Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Saccidananda Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura, Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and many other religious leaders as well, for example Jesus Christ, they all had to bear all kinds of discomforts and opposition in the way of preaching about that Absolute Truth, according to their respective level.

One thing is sure that if we really have the courage to follow in their footsteps, then we also must be ready to embrace discomfort and opposition for the sake of that Absolute Truth. To follow those Sarasvat Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas is surely not for the weak. Śrīla Bhakti Pragayan Kesava Gosvāmī Mahārāj used to say that— "'Nāyam ātmā bala-hīnena labhyaḥ – one cannot attain Paramātmā if one is lacking in strength.' Upon reflection on this statement from the Upaniṣads, it becomes clear that bhagavad-bhajana is not for the weak or timid nor for cowards. Thanks to the stupidity of phony sentimentalist sahajiyās, the dharma of the Gauḍīya Vaisnavas – what Śrīman Mahāprabhu came to preach – is lapsing into oblivion. Unlike the sahajiyās, we do not display the slightest hint of weakness in preaching the message of Mahāprabhu. Weakness of heart (hṛdaya-daurbalya) is the foremost obstacle in performing hari-bhajana. Those thoroughly free of this flaw are most qualified to preach. They alone are worthy of making disciples the world over. Courage, symptomatically, is not passive. The function of consciousness is action. We have had the fortune to be born in the spiritual family of such valiant personalities as Śrīla Prabhupāda and Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. Moreover, we maintain claim to the lineage of Śrīman Madhvacharya, the veritable emblem of strength and courage. It is the weak cowardly, impotent and lazy who are following the efforts of those bābājīs, mātājīs and caste Gosvāmīs of today who are antagonistic to bhagavad-bhakti. We will not replicate the devotional blunders of the sahajiyās."

Those sahajiyās, antagonists and those wayward non-devotees they always choose the easy way of bhajana-life. They are not ready to step out even one inch from their comfort zone. Surely Sarasvat Gauḍīya bhajana is not for those who want to stay in their comfort zone forever. Actual Sarasvat Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas they are always ready to jump into fire for protecting the absolute siddhānta vāṇī vaibhava as per the standing order given by Śrīla Prabhupāda and Śrīla Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura.

Really, we think so that Śrīla Shyam Das Baba Mahārāj is one such vivid fiery example from whom we all can take never ending inspiration. We can really witness that Śrīla Baba Mahārāj is always standing up for the absolute preaching of Bhakti Siddhānta Vāṇī with the utmost honour and dignity. His ongoing untiring seva which includes countless writings in form of protest notes, speaking countless hari-kathās for all those who are willing to listen, giving answers to countless questions from all around the world, doing parikramā with intense prayer for all of us. This really shows his unending kṛpa for all of us.

kripasindhu susampurnah sarva satvopakarakah

nisprhah sarvatah siddhah sarva vidya visaradah

sarva samsaya sancchetta ‘nalaso gurur ahrtah                    (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa – 1/45/46)

Such person is called guru who is an ocean of mercy, who feels pain on seeing the unhappiness of others, who is always satisfied (saturated) and who works for the welfare of others, who does not desire sense gratification, who is perfect in all respects, who is expert in all scriptural knowledge, who removes the doubts of his followers and who is not lazy (always busy in serving the Lord 24 hours).

All his actions can prove that Śrīla Baba Mahārāj is willing to embrace all kinds of discomfort and strong opposition for the sake of the absolute prachar of bhakti siddhānta vāṇī. Even at the cost of his own life or health issue, he is always ready to serve bhakti siddhānta vāṇī. For him the correct message of Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda is much more important than his own life or anything else related to this material world.

Without taking a strong vow on our part to follow such powerful Vaiṣṇava with resolute determination it will be never possible to show up when everything is getting hot in form of so many oppositions (be it internally or externally), rather most of the people they will immediately try to find some safe exit back into the world of Māyādevi, because they cannot bear the immense purity emanating from those powerful commanders of Śrīla Prabhupāda's army. Śrīla Bhakti Rakshak Śrīdhar Gosvāmī Mahārāj used to say many times— Gauḍīya bhajana means ‘do or die’.

It is a fact that the higher one goes the thinner the air and the stronger the wind becomes. And that is why most of our Gauḍīya guru-varga repeatedly speaking that maybe a handful or even less are really ready to accept in toto all the teachings of The Prabhupāda.

Śrīla Sadananda Svami used to say that— “Yes, there are different paths to different goals, but each path involves a strict discipline and there isn’t any yoga in the Shastrams that leads like a rocket to union with God. It is a fact, however, that simple folk wish for and seem to need cheap things: belief in miracles, superstition and expectations of quick solutions through psychological tricks – these inspire most people of all races and social classes: panaceas for problems. Only a few have the strength to receive grace and tread the path of the noble. I have already indicated this when Vamandas so often encountered such positive response in people’s hearts; the human heart is fickle and after the first sweet tasting comes the sobering down and the distinct, steep path. Kṛṣṇa is noble and wants those who are noble and wants to make them His Own. It is not so easy to become noble and Godlike in this sense. Seva-ananda [the joy of serving God] is infinitely higher – and more difficult – than bhogasukha [taking pleasures in enjoying, experiencing], and the latter is what most people desire.”

He further used to say that— “Neither God nor the avatara ever wanted to turn the world or even India into a paradise, but they wanted society to be set up in such a way that it would be possible for man to rise above the beast [in him]. People, however, prefer to remain beasts and consequently the society is not arranged according to God’s principles. God, the avatara and the bhaktas taught and practised true love for God, which only one or two among millions can have. Teaching about the Absolute for those who want to remain beast is like casting pearls before swine." (Svami Sadananda dasa,  Letter 1955)

And again in another letter he wrote— “……Mr. E. is of the opinion that “Sweden is too small for Sadananda”. – Tell him that the world is too small for me. I may find two or three persons in a whole continent who can understand what rasa is and who are able to appreciate a work of rasika as the Bhagavatam or Caitanya-Caritamrita. Here in India there may be two or three persons? To me it is as for Angira Muni in Bhagavatam 6. He came to Citraketu and wanted to offer him the highest gift there is – but found him longing for descendants. Everyone longs for something else – not for inner freedom. Everyone wants to remain a slave, just a change of clothes and chains; no one wants to cast them aside." (Svami Sadananda dasa, Letter 1960)

That’s why The Prabhupāda used to encourage us by saying that— "When you see that most people are indifferent to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and show no interest in selfless service to Kṛṣṇa and in talks about Him, don’t be discouraged. Most of all, never give up your bhajana, your life and soul."

From all those statements above it is very clear that most of the people they are falling prey to all the traps which Māyādevi has cunningly set up everywhere – especially in our devotional field. Māyādevi has made wonderful arrangements so that almost nobody can be aware of that Absolute Truth. Who is really ready to leave behind all the promises made by Māyādevi's agents who appear in the dress of Vaiṣṇavas? Nowadays Māyādevi's agents have entered in almost each and every corner of our Gauḍīya bhajana-field which makes it almost impossible to get the real thing (śuddha bhakti). Śrīla Bhakti Pragyan Keshava Gosvāmī used to say that— "They are running here and there thinking that they will get what they are searching for, but in reality, it is not available there – where they are bowing down."

Naturally Māyā, the illusionary power of the Lord embraces all the jīva with the snares of a so-called comfortable devotional life. Māyādevi creates a trap so nicely decorated with so-called kirtan, so-called prasadam, so-called sādhus that it will be almost impossible to realize in which great danger we are put into. To swim with the current of Māyā and her wonderful arrangements of cheap exhibitions of bhakti is very easy and travelled by most of the popularity, but when it comes to bhakti in its purest form than opposition is a must. It will feel like swimming alone against the current, because all are running other direction. So either we have to bear the discomfort along the way of pure bhakti before attaining the real amrita (nectar) or we just jump into the current of Māyā which seems apparently the better decision, full of glamour and position, but the outcome will be more than horrible. Now it is up to us in which kind of current we want to drown ourselves.

Māyādevi's agents in the dress of Vaiṣṇavas will always try to obstruct the way to reach the Lotus feet of a śuddha-bhakta (a pure devotee). Māyādevi's servants are always the first to raise their voices against pure devotees. They will loudly declare— “Don’t go there, don’t go there. I promise you they are all cheaters, better you stay with me.” This way those agents of Maydevi will flatter those new new devotees in a very tricky way to make them fall down.

The Prabhupāda used to say that— “Nowadays, Māyā devi’s servants are counted as servants of Caitanya. If we accept them as devotees then there is no one more foolish than us. 99.9% of the world’s population are chopping with an axe at Caitanyacandra's Lotus feet in the name of offering flowers. Almost cent percent of the people are doing that.”

Gaura Hari Hari Bol