Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Māyā the witch. Māyā's lap is very nice — enjoying, enjoying. Māyā the witch. Why are you sleeping in the lap of māyā? Oh, māyā. (laughs) Soft bed. (laughs) Soft bed. So thorny.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Thorn, so many pointed. Pebbles are there. Thorns are there. You enjoy there? Oh, nasty place. What is this nonsense? (laughs) What is this nonsense, Gokula dāsa? You see, Kṛṣṇa is the only source of all happiness and pleasure. Sat-cid-ānanda. Yes. All source of happiness and pleasure is Kṛṣṇa. Be always engaged with Kṛṣṇa's service. Be always in contact with Kṛṣṇa. Then you find how, what pleasure is there, what happiness is there. Then you can understand. Is there any happiness and pleasure in māyā's lap? No. Only suffering and pain is there. Only suffering and pain is there. In the beginning it is just little, little māyā's allurement is there, little, but the outcome is unlimited misery ananta-duḥkha.
ye hi saṁsparśajā bhogā duḥkhayonaya eva te ādyantavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣu ramate budhaḥ [Bg 5.22]
Gītā says, one who is budhaḥ, one who is really learned, really wise, he never runs after this material enjoyment. Māyā the witch. Because there's no happiness, no pleasure at all, because the outcome is unlimited misery.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Do you think this happiness and pleasure? But it's eternal, that is, which is eternal pleasure — beginning, middle, and end. Everything is only enjoyment and pleasure. That is the real pleasure and happiness. No unhappiness or displeasure is there.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Because the outcome is unlimited pleasure only. That is real pleasure and happiness. That is Kṛṣṇa's service, loving service. Kṛṣṇa is loving service. Keep yourself always engaged in Kṛṣṇa's loving service. Don't allow māyā to enter into your thought process.
Devotee: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Be careful. Guard yourself very carefully. Then you'll be really a dear servant of Kṛṣṇa. A Kṛṣṇa never leave you. Oh, My dear servant — how can I leave? How can I leave? That's my... And that's our natural constitutional position, kṛṣṇera das. jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya — kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’ [CC Madhya-lila 20.108]. That is our constitutional position. Yes, Kṛṣṇa's eternal servant. Yes. kena māyā-dāsa habe, hārāibe paramārtha-dhana. Why you'll become servant of māyā and lose such a valuable asset? That Kṛṣṇa bhakti is invaluable asset, paramārtha-dhana. You'll lose it. Then lifelong, lifelong, you will cry, you will suffer. He will suffer. He will cry. Then he get only suffering and unhappiness and pain. Gokula dāsa?
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Seva sukha — that there is pleasure in serving Kṛṣṇa, seva sukha. Happiness and pleasure derived from Kṛṣṇa's service. karmī, jñānī, yogī — karmi, jñānī, yogī sakali ‘aśānta’, eka mata kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma, ataeva ‘śānta’. Only Kṛṣṇa bhakta, devotee Kṛṣṇa is peaceful. He has no other desire. No desire for material enjoyment, no desire for liberation, merging into Brahman. No desire. Only he is peaceful. karmīs, jñānīs, yogīs — they have desire. karmī has material desire for material enjoyment. jñānī has desire for liberation, merging into Brahman or the Lord. yogī has desire for yogic perfection, mystic perfection. So, they are all always disgusted. They have no peace at all. Only Kṛṣṇa bhakta who have developed unalloyed devotion unto Kṛṣṇa — he is peaceful, always happy, cheerful, joyful, blissful. Yes.
karmī jñānī ubhaye-i kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha kabhu nāhi āsvādaya kṛṣṇa-dāsya-sukha [Śrī Hari-nāma Cintāmaṇi – Chapter 1 Śrī Nāma Māhātmya Sūcanā]
karmīs, jñānīs, yogīs all are... all are conditioned souls. They have not developed, attached attraction towards Kṛṣṇa. They are all forgetful of Kṛṣṇa. kabhu nāhi āsvādaya kṛṣṇa-dāsya-sukha — they cannot taste what pleasure is there, keeping oneself engaged in Kṛṣṇa's loving service. They cannot taste it. They cannot have it. Yes. kabhu nāhi āsvādaya kṛṣṇa-dāsya-sukha. Yes. So, relishment is there, some enjoyment is there if you keep yourself engaged in lovely service of Kṛṣṇa. Yes. Otherwise, how can we be here? Are you not getting anything (laughs)? We are here. We are getting something. Hey. Hari bol. Arre mosha hele ghoane. Are you not getting anything, any pleasure in serving Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee: By your grace, I'm getting something.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Otherwise, how can you be here? You can't be here. You're getting something. But get it constantly, eternally. What is that? It's unlimited. It's like unlimited ocean. Let us drown in that ocean, sink in, uh, that ocean.
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam [Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam Verse1]
Isn't it? ānandāmbudhi means ocean, ocean of blissfulness, ocean of pleasure. ānandā. Unlimited ocean. It, it, it increases, it increases and increases. vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ. You will stay. It increases and increases. The more you go, the more you enter into it, it increases more, more, more. It's unlimited. Yes. Unlimited ocean, unlimited ocean. There are no limit to it. Oh, good. Oh, kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam— Kṛṣṇa service. We should understand to keep ourselves engaged in it. Mahāprabhu is so merciful. He has brought this for us: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-sańkīrtana, rati nā janmilo kene tāy. Narottam Das Thakur says this is golokera prema-dhana. It doesn't belong to this material world, but Mahāprabhu is wonderfully merciful. He brought us both Gaura and Nitāi. Nitāi jivera dasa, malina dekhe’, nam eneche braja theke re. Nitāi. Nityānanda is more merciful. So, His heart melted, so He brought that name from Vrajabumi. Living entities are suffering, suffering; they've been suffering, suffering here so many lakhs, lakhs of times — time immemorial, time immemorial. Let them, let their suffering end; suffering be ended. Let it stop. Let them enjoy. Let them enjoy. Eternal. Let them get eternal happiness, eternal blissfulness, eternal pleasure. Let them get it. So, he brought this harināma. madhure harināma — so sweet. Can't you taste that sweetness? You told us so sweet this harināma. No taste. No taste? No taste. Sugar candy is so sweet, but, what to say, jaundice patient — jaundice patient cannot taste it. It's so bitter. If you give him neem leaf, oh, very nice taste; jaundice patient will say, you are like such patient? Which is bitter, he says, very sweet. Which really sweet, oh, bitter. Jaundice patient says sugar candy, oh, they are bitter. Give him neem leaf, oh, very nice, sweet (laughs). Jaundice patient, excessive bile, Pītādika. So, doctor or physician knows his jaundice patient has excessive bile. So this is the medicine: this sugar candy is the medicine for him. That is the medicine. So, he gives that, prescribes that medicine. You take this medicine and eat this medicine with sugar candy, he prescribes. And if you are very serious — yes, let me be cured of the disease. This disease may happen. Let me cure. So,you must... Though it is very... It seems to be bitter, it tastes bitter — really it is not bitter, but you take it constantly. anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā. anudinaṁ. Day after day, every day you take, though it's bitter for you. It seems to be bitter. Then gradually your disease will be cured. Excessive bile is now lessened. Then you taste how sweet it is. Oh, so sweet. But it was so bitter in the previous. Now it is so sweet. Then you have it. Yes. Though it seems to be bitter to you, don't cease, don't stop chanting, doing kirtan. Go on, continue, continue. This is good for you. Very good. So?
Devotee: This morning in class you quoted Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. He said that Kṛṣṇa doesn't listen to the prayers of anyone who is not in Śaraṇāgati.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes, yes.
Devotee: So what about the chanting? Is that the same? Also Kṛṣṇa doesn't listen to the chanting?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Chanting should be done under the guidance of guru. Gurura anugati āśraya laiyā bhaje — You should take shelter of a guru who is completely surrendered, to whom Kṛṣṇa listens. Then do bhajana; then Kṛṣṇa will listen. What does guru do? Guru offers prayer for you. Because Kṛṣṇa listens to him, because he's very intimate to guru. He's very intimate. He's very dear and intimate. Only Kṛṣṇa listens to him. The guru offers prayer for you to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, he say, vaiṣṇavera āvedane kṛṣṇa dayāmaya, e hena pāmara prati ha’bena sa-daya. When a Vaiṣṇava will offer prayer for me, then Kṛṣṇa is so merciful — he will listen. Then I am such pāmara, most degraded, stupid rascal, most sinful person. I have nothing: no knowledge, no karma, no bhakti, nothing. I'm most dina patita. Then Kṛṣṇa will shower his mercy on me. Otherwise, I cannot get his mercy. This is the process, I say.
Vaiṣṇava, the guru, sadhu guru Vaiṣṇava will... he is offering prayer for you. "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, I have brought this fellow to you many, many, many, many lives — innumerable lives, lakhs, lakhs of lives. He was suffering, suffering, suffering, forgetting you. Now he has come to you. He has come to you. I have brought him to you." That means he is offering, he is advocate in court of Kṛṣṇa. Judge only listen to the advocate. That is what guru's business, sadhu's business. His heart melts, his heart bleeds seeing the suffering of the conditioned souls here. So he comes down here. And if someone is fortunate, take shelter of a sadhu. Sadhu is vāñchā-kalpataru. You see?
vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ
Vāñchā-kalpataru — he is the desire tree. Whatever desire you will put forth there, it will be granted. patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo kṛpā-sindhu is ocean of mercy, that Vaiṣṇava, sadhu guru. He is the deliverer of the patitas. He has come here. We must take shelter of him. He is the deliverer. Then he will take, take ours too. We have no right; we have no right to go there, approach them. Have you right? Have you right? No, right?
Kṛṣṇa's door is closed for us, isn't it? Kṛṣṇa's door is closed for us. How his door will open for us conditioned souls, rascals? Only this is the process — that sadhu guru Vaiṣṇava. Whenever he goes there, knocks at the door, Kṛṣṇa open: "Yes, yes." Mind here, what happened? Here listens, it's all here. Any time, any moment, Kṛṣṇa's door is open for him, not for you. Door is closed. You, see? He offers prayer: "Oh, Kṛṣṇa, I have brought this fellow to you. Many, many lives, many, many lives this rascal have been suffering, has been suffering, suffering, suffering, crying, crying, crying, crying, forgetting you. Anyhow, fortunately I capture him. I have brought to you. Please accept." Oh, you say? "All right, all right. Come, come, come, come." And then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Otherwise, Kṛṣṇa never accepts, never hear. That Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, ṣaḍ-ańga śaraṇāgati hoibe jāhāra, tāhāra prārthanā śune śrī-nanda-kumāra. When he's completely surrendered, ṣaḍ-ańga — six symptoms are there. Complete six symptoms are there, complete surrender. Only Nanda-kumāra, son of Nanda Mahārāja, Will hear. Otherwise, He'll never hear. So, we take shelter of such a sadhu, such Vaiṣṇava who is completely surrendered. He accepts. Uh, he takes up and he offers prayer for us. vaiṣṇavera āvedane kṛṣṇa dayāmaya, e hena pāmara prati ha’bena sa-daya. When Vaiṣṇava, when Vaiṣṇavas will pray for me, then merciful Kṛṣṇa will shower His mercy on me, such rascal, stupid. Otherwise, how can I get His mercy? I cannot get His mercy. This is the process only to get mercy of Kṛṣṇa. That Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Mahajanas and others — they have said these things.
And now also Mahāprabhu has manifested as lila. And King Pratāparudra wanted to see Mahāprabhu. Mahāprabhu said, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. he is king... I am sannyasi. I am sannyasi. He is king — king means who associates with woman and gold." Kāminī-kāñcana. Isn't it? Kāminī woman, kāñcana gold. "I am sannyasi. How can I give him darshan? How can he come to me? No. My sannyas dharma will be destroyed, finished." Isn't it? He said, he said, "No, no." Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāya Rāmānanda — all said, "No, Mahāprabhu, though he is king, he is a devotee. Whatever it may be. This king isspoiled everything. Only this name, king, raja, because he associates with Kāminī and kāñcana — woman and gold. I am sannyasi. No, no, no, no." Then he's saying:
śukla-vastre masi-bindu yaiche nā lukāya sannyāsīra alpa chidra sarva-loke gāya pūrṇa yaiche dugdhera kalasa surā-bindu-pāte keha nā kare paraśa [CC Madhya 12.51 and 53]
He said that. The white sheet of cloth is there. Little spot, black spot — very, very little, minute black spot is there. If you want to hide it, it cannot be hidden. Only very little spot. Cannot be hidden. It will come out. Similarly, very minor, very minor, negligible mistake in part of a sannyasi will be broadcasted so widely. Very little, negligible mistake, minor mistake. Still people broadcast it with their mouth: "Oh my God, this, that, that." You cannot hide it, you see. pūrṇa yaiche dugdhera kalasa, surā-bindu-pāte keha nā kare paraśa — A very big pot is completely filled to the brim with pure milk. Only one drop of liquor. Drop. Finished. Spoiled. Everything spoiled. Nobody will touch it now. No. Only very little drop of, one drop of liquor only. A big pot of milk filled to the brim — only one drop spoils it, whole pot spoiled. "I am sannyasi. I cannot."
What did Pratāparudra do? He cried, grasping the feet of the Vaiṣṇavas: "Only you can help me. Nobody can help me. How can I get the darshan of Mahāprabhu? I cannot, unless you Vaiṣṇavas help me." He cried, he cried, grasping the lotus feet of the Vaiṣṇavas. That he says. vaiṣṇavera āvedane kṛṣṇa dayāmaya, e hena pāmara prati ha’bena sa-daya. And that happened, you see. And the Vaiṣṇavas — even prachur nivedan. Those Vaiṣṇavas are so merciful, so merciful. They are patitā pāvana, deliverers of patitā. They'll take shelter of such Vaiṣṇavas. Uh, Ocean of Mercy, kṛpā-sindhu. Ocean of Mercy. Mm. He offers so much prayer for you, for this conscious. "Oh, Kṛṣṇa. Please, please. I have brought this fellow, brought this rascal to you. Please, please. Oh, Kṛṣṇa, please." nivedan, prachur nivedan Vaiṣṇava does for one soul. Not easy task to deliver one soul from the sport of māyā. Not an easy task. This is the process. Vaishnavera nivedan and Vaiṣṇava offers prayer. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, "Kṛṣṇa will never listen unless you are completely surrendered; Kṛṣṇa will never listen to you." ṣaḍ-ańga śaraṇāgati hoibe jāhāra, tāhāra prārthanā śune śrī-nanda-kumāra. So, he says that. So, we take shelter of such a vaishnav who is completely surrendered. Otherwise, you cannot take shelter. You can't take shelter of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will never listen to you. You have no right to approach Kṛṣṇa. Have you right? Conditioned soul we have no right at all. This is what Vaiṣṇava does for you. What can you do? Vaiṣṇava is so merciful. that Prabodhānanda Sarasvatīpāda says. Another also, Prabodhānanda Sarasvatīpāda says in Caitanya-candrāmṛta:,
ācārya-dharmaṁ paricarya viṣṇuṁ vicārya tīrthāni vicārya vedān vinā na gaura-priya-pāda-sevāṁ vedādi-duṣprāpa-padaṁ vidanti [Śrī Caitanya-candrāmṛta Verse 22]
"You may do all these things. You may very strictly follow the principles of dharma. You may offer ṣoḍaśopachār pūjā to Lord Viṣṇu." Offer such opulent worship to Lord Viṣṇu: paricarya viṣṇuṁ. vicārya tīrthāni. You may visit all the holy places in the world. vicārya vedān. You may do Vedic study, become Vedic pandit. vinā na Gaura-priya-pāda-sevāṁ, vedādi-duṣprāpa-padaṁ vidanti. "Without serving the lotus feet of a dear devotee of Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, you cannot enter into Vṛndāvan." That means cannot enter into Kṛṣṇa's abode. You cannot understand the prema-tattva. vedādi-duṣprāpa — which is not available in Veda. Brahmā does not know. Brahmārā durūlaba. Veda comes from Brahmān, from his four vedas, that says. Only take shelter of Gaura-priya-jana Take shelter of the lotus feet of a dear devotee of Gaurāṅga. Then all perfection is there. vaiṣṇavera kṛpā yāhe sarva-siddhi. They are saying that. Get the mercy of such Vaiṣṇava, Gaura-priya-pāda; then all perfection is there. Otherwise, no. You can't. Isn't it? So, this is the only way, only process. No other process, no other way is there. The only way, only process.
Devotee: One may ask, how can somebody who lives far away from such sadhus, someone who's—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: You fool, you fool.
Devotee: ...a woman or someone — they think, "Oh, I'm so distant. How can I approach the lotus feet of the sadhu?" They think like that.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: The sadhu is so merciful; the material distance is nothing here. What is this material distance? Sadhu is not — not a, not a material being.
Devotee: So, if I offer prayers and respects to sadhus even though I'm on the other side of the world?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Wheatver you are — wherever you may be there.
Devotee: And if I'm a woman? Or a—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Whatever you may be there. Whatever you may be. You may be a woman. What is that? (laughs) You are a soul.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Sadhu never sees the body. He sees the soul. The soul is Kṛṣṇa's vaṣṭu. Oh. It belongs to Kṛṣṇa, who is my beloved, dear. See? Sadhus sees this way. Wherever you may be, sadhu is with you always if you have developed such love and affection for that sadhu, and you have taken shelter of him completely. Yes. Yes. Hmm.
Devotee: What is that? Where — did a disciple who takes shelter of his spiritual master — how is, how is he being empowered? It appears that he gets all strength.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Because the guru, sādhu, Vaiṣṇava guru inculcates strength. That is kṛpā-bala, strength of mercy, merciful strength.
Devotee: Yeah, merciful strength.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: We were reading that.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: And that will come up now in the Bhāgavatam—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...about the strength of getting the blessings of one's guru.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Guru. Yes. That merciful strength inculcates. That is baladeva's kṛpā-bala, because guru is a manifestation of Baladeva.
Devotee: Oh.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Baladeva means very strong. His name is Balabhadra or Bala, Baladeva, Balabhadra. Very strong. This mer—this merciful strength of Bala Ram, Bala Dev. The guru is the manifestation of Bala Ram, Nityānanda Ram. He has come here with that mercy. So, he inculcates his mercy, then the strength is inculcated. If you're always engaged in his loving service, guru is pleased; his power is constantly inculcated. And if you displease, just (yasya prasadat na gati kuti pi). If the guru is displeased, where is your existence?
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Finished. Finished. You're done. Finished. You have no existence now. You withdraw that power; you cannot lift your hand even — what to speak of lift a tiny grass, blade of grass. Can't do anything. Finished. How can you appear in the festival of Janmashtami? Such big, grand festival is taking place — Kṛṣṇa's appearance festival, Janmashtami. Can you appear there?
Devotee: No.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: How can you appear? How can you go there? How can you enter there? You cannot move now. That Sadhguru has withdrawn his mercy from you.
Devotee: Oh.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: What I say?
Devotee: A little. Only a little. I can understand how I'm completely dependent on the Sadhu's mercy—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...for anything.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Any—
Devotee: But what do you mean?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That is the ultimate goal.
Devotee: To go to Kṛṣṇa?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: To join in that festival.
Devotee: To join in that festival.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Kṛṣṇa Janmashtami. Kṛṣṇa Janma Mahotsava.
Devotee: Uh-huh.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Nanda Mahārāja, all cowherd boys and gopis are performing that grand festival. How can I take part in it? Yes. You cannot take part. You can't go there. You cannot up enter into it. So... this is the only process. Dull-headed fellow.
Devotee: (laughs)
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Very dull head. So hard, very hard as this Indra thought. Thunderbolt is so powerful, cut off the neck of Vṛtrāsura, but it became powerless. Namuci's, it cannot penetrate in the skin of Namuci. So sharp, so hard, tough. Tough. (laughs) Isn't it?
Devotee: How does one know? Just like I may feel devoid of strength.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: I may feel devoid of strength. I very much need.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Always. Yes, yes. I am very—
Devotee: But I don't know.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: I am very weak. I'm very weak.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: I have no strength. This, this baby cat.
Devotee: Cat. Oh.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Kitten. Kitten.
Devotee: Yes. Baby cat. Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: They completely depend upon their mothers. The mother will come, catch them.
Devotee: Mouse.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Through her mouth, teeth. She takes them from one place to another.
Devotee: I guess.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That is our position. We have two logics. Markaṭa-nyāya, Mārjāra-nyāya. Where the baby monkey, what it does, very slightly—
Devotee: Hangs on?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Catches, its mother. Mother doesn't take care. Baby monkey catches. Then mother jumps from one branch, one branch. That is not for us. Our Mārjāra-nyāya. We are kitten — completely dependent upon our, upon our mother. My mother will come and to take me.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Clinging. (laughs) Complete dependent. Mother will take. This is our case.
Devotee: Ah.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: We are so helpless.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. This nyāya, this logic is for us, applicable for us. Not that logic, not Markaṭa-nyāya, monkey logic. This cat logic.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Two logics are there, Markaṭa-nyāya Mārjāra-nyāya.
Devotee: I understand a little.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughs)
Devotee: And I was thinking, or my train of thought was going along a different way slightly, and that was, um...
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: You are a speculator.
Devotee: Speculating.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughs)
Devotee: Some speculations.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: In my mind. But I was, I was thinking more the strength to carry out the order of guru, like the, the strength to be successful in spiritual life, to give up this material attachment. Sometimes I feel very weak.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: And I'm analyzing it.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Really, I am weak.
Devotee: I'm so weak.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: And I'm analyzing—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...why am I not getting the mercy of you?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. I'm very weak. I'm really, I'm weak. I have no strength, nothing.
Devotee: So, Madhavi said if I please spiritual master, if I please Nityānanda Prabhu—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Uh-huh.
Devotee: ...then I will become very strong.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Because their mercy is the strength, our strength, their mercy. Guru Nityānanda's mercy. That is the only strength, no other strength of mine. Yes, that's the only strength. No other strength for mine. No. Guru Nityānanda's mercy. Yes.
Devotee: So, ma—many devotees are... They sometimes ask this question. I've heard it many times. How do I know when I am pleasing a spiritual master? How do I know definitely that this...
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: What, what spiritual master said you are doing as it is, carrying out as it is. Not twisting, not adding anything and not subtracting anything.
Devotee: Oh. But I'm a mental speculator.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Give up your speculation.
Devotee: But then... (laughs)
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: We, we, we give, always give this example, example of Paraśurāma, example of Lord Ram, Lord Ram. Jamadagni said, "Chop off the head of your mother." Immediately he chopped it off. No speculation. "Oh, I'll chop off my mother's head, kill my mother?" Commit such offense, such great sin! Mātṛ-hatyā, killing of mother. Never a thought. Immediately. That is what. (laughs)
Devotee: I understand.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yeah.
Devotee: (laughs)
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: There was all arrangements Lord Ram would be king, sit on this throne. Next morning, within the night everything completely changed. Lord Ram would go to forest for 14 years. Soon as the, there is morning.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Lord Ram put on—
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: ...the skin of the tree, matted, matted hair, matted hair, everything.
Devotee: Uh-huh. Hmm. But—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Started for...
Devotee: But my mind is speculating. It says, "Oh, if I... If you do that you're a fool."
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughs) You're a fool?
Devotee: You're a fool if you do like that.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Oh.
Devotee: If you cut off the head of your mother.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Yes.
Devotee: Or if you go to the forest, you're a fool.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yeah. Yes. Because you are captured by māyā. māyā presents, real as unreal, truth as false, and false as truth before you. Real as unreal, unreal as real. So you think so — you are fool, but you are wise. (laughs) You are wise. If you does so... If you do so, you are wise. Don't do, you are fool. But you say, "If I don't do, I am wise. But do, I am fool." (laughs)
Devotee: Yes. Because that, that... In my mind the idea of total surrender, as some... There was one saying, uh, if there is absolute power then there will be corruption.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: What?
Devotee: Absolute po—power—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Uh-huh.
Devotee: ...brings about corruption.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Corruption?
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: It's not material power. Spiritual strength. No, no question of corruption at all. Material power, there is question of corruption.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: Yes, but, uh, the mind, it will fight against this.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes, stupid mind. It's a stupid mind.
Devotee: It will fight against this because—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes. Mm-hmm.
Devotee: ...because as soon as... "Oh, I've surrendered like that before and I was cheated."
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm. Yes, stupid mind.
Devotee: And I've seen other people if they surrender like that, "Oh, all bad is coming to me."
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes, yes. This stupid mind. We Don't listen to anybody.
Devotee: (laughs)
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Don't listen to anybody. I have accepted with firm faith, unflinching faith.
Devotee: Right.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: And yesterday you were saying and many times you've said if I surrender to sadhu, if I surrender to that sadhu completely—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm.
Devotee: ...if that sadhu is not 100% bona fide, then Kṛṣṇa will not tolerate it.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes.
Devotee: He will not tolerate it that I am fully surrendering to that person.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm. Yes.
Devotee: He won't tolerate it.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: And he will be exposed.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Exposed, his own self, yes.
Devotee: So actually the question that that sadhu is not 100% is not a question for me at all. The question is that I just completely surrender—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...to a sadhu.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: If Kṛṣṇa has made such arrangement for me, I am completely... Mm-hmm.
Devotee: If Kṛṣṇa—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Dependent on Kṛṣṇa's arrangement.
Devotee: Uh-huh.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: If Kṛṣṇa has made such arrangement for me—
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: ...so I accept it. But Kṛṣṇa knows it's you.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Because you are... You're attachment with, with Kṛṣṇa only. You want to go to Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: You can go directly through sadhu.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Kṛṣṇa know, though he's doing wrong thing, and Kṛṣṇa will expose.
Devotee: So there's, there's never any loss for me?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: No, no loss for you.
Devotee: There's never any loss for me?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: No, no.
Devotee: And if I'm 100% surrendering to this process—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...then I'm surrendering to Kṛṣṇa.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Kṛṣṇa, yes.
Devotee: Right.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Process is so bona fide process and perfect process.
Devotee: Mm-hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: Yeah.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That I say. The Blue Jackal story, therefore I said in France. (laughs) I say you wait, you see. Kṛṣṇa will reveal everything. Isn't it? 1985. 1985.
Devotee: So if, if guru tells me to cut off the head of my mother, I shouldn't question it, I should just do it?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: No. No. No. No question. No question.
Devotee: No question.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: No question is there. No question is there. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Devotee: Oh, this wicked mind brings up so many things. Just like in South America—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm.
Devotee: ...there was one group there.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Mm-hmm.
Devotee: They followed one man, his name was called Jim Jones.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That's right.
Devotee: Have you heard of him?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: No.
Devotee: He was a guru, set himself up as a guru. And, uh, he had many followers. They had one big community. And he decided that the world was a horrible place, so he brought all of his members together and ordered them to drink poison.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughing) Drink poison?
Devotee: And they all got together with cyanide, and, and these leading men, they all had guns, and they all drank poison and killed themselves, hundreds of them.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Nonsense. (laughing) Nonsense.
Devotee: Yeah.
Devotee: Those who didn't want to were forced to.
Devotee: And those that wh—didn't want to, they forced them a bit.
Devotee: The guru, the guru also killed himself, right?
Devotee: And they all kill... And the guru also drank poison, and they all died.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Isn't that right?
Devotee: Hundreds of them.
Devotee: They said, "We'll all go together to heaven."
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Nonsense.
Devotee: Leave this place, let's go to heaven.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughing) Nonsense.
Devotee: So, in this—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: By committing, by committing suicide, can anybody go to Kṛṣṇa?
Devotee: No.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That Mahāprabhu said. That Mahāprabhu said.
Devotee: When they—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Do you think that by committing suicide, by finishing, killing this body you'll go to Kṛṣṇa? This body is meant for Kṛṣṇa's service. It is Kṛṣṇa's property; what right you have—
Devotee: Hmm.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: ...to destroy His property? You nonsense. Ātma-hatyā kare, Kṛṣṇa mile? So, if guru says like that, he's not a guru at all. (laughing)
Devotee: But they've been using this against ISKCON a lot, always saying, "Oh, you see, the danger of absolute authority." They have to put that—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: One is a fool, he will listen to them. One is a fool, a fool listens to them. Nonsense. One has some common sense. Why listen to him, them? You should have some common sense. What is good? As we say, we give this example, material example. You want to go to a school, vidyalaya. We say in Sanskrit, vidyalaya. You should understand what is vidyalaya. What is that place? How is that place? Who is there? And what, what business goes on there? You should have this common sense. If you're devoid of common sense, if you went to vastralaya. Vastralaya means a cloth store.
Devotee: Ah.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: And said, "Is it a vidyalaya?" Are you fool? It is vastralaya. It is a cloth store. This cloth is only sold and purchased. This is not vidyalaya. You should have some common sense. That is good. (laughing) They have no common sense, you listen to them. What a fool. (laughing)
Devotee: It seems that, uh, in the... if one fully surrenders, then one turns a blind eye to all faults.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Fully surrender means? Then your real eye is open. You were blind.
Devotee: Yes.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yeah. (laughing)
Devotee: But they... persons, they s— they accuse us of this? Also, we have seen in the past that, uh, if we, when we have accepted someone in full surrender, then we become blind, they say.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yeah.
Devotee: They say we're becoming blind. We are becoming narrow vision.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes, whatever they say.
Devotee: Narrow vision.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Whatever they say, let them say.
Devotee: Brainwashed.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Let them say.
Devotee: Brainwashed.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: (laughing) Let them say. I, I won't hear. Mm, there is one verse, nice verse. tyajantu bāndhavāḥ sarve, nindantu guravo janāḥ, tathāpi paramānando
Devotee: Ah.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: That one verse is there.
Devotee: When your intelligence has crossed the dense forest of delusion?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: You become illiterate.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: And let those who are very strong moralist, moral persons, if they blame me, let them blame me. tyajantu bāndhavāḥ All my dear friends, those who are my friends, relatives, if they desert me, let them desert me. But I cannot give it up. That's a very nice verse is there. So we are like that. Let them dare do, let them say whatever they like. But I cannot leave the lotus feet of this Viṣṇu and Sadguru. No, I can't.
Devotee: Is it that it is only when we are thinking we're in great danger, can then, we then take, adopt, that shelter? Is it then, you know, like what you said about the kitten, that he, you know, that he thinks himself very weak and—
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yes.
Devotee: ...dependent.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Complete dependent on his mother. We are completely dependent. We are completely dependent on the mercy of Sadhu guru. This is best, completely dependent. They give such examples. Your father, you are my father, you are my mother, you are everything. In Caitanya Maṅgala, that is...
Devotee: Guru mata, guru pita.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: sei se parama bandhu, sei pitā-mātā śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe yei prema-bhakti-dātā, sakala janme pitā-mātā sabe pāya kṛṣṇa guru nāhi mile, bhajaha hiyāya......................... He is my father, he is my mother, he is my friend. He is my best friend, supreme friend, param bandhu. Who? One who has give, developed my Kṛṣṇa-prema, at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. He is everything for me. sei se parama bandhu, sei pitā-mātā. He is my supreme friend, he is my father, he is my mother. sakala janme pitā-mātā sabe pāya. All get father and mother in every birth. Without, without father, mother, how can you take birth? That means material fathers, I have many, many, innumerable material fathers and mothers. But such father and mother
Devotee: Guru Kṛṣṇa.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: ... Guru Kṛṣṇa is not easily available. I have gotten it, how can I leave it now? Like this. All right, thank you. Govinda Hey.
Devotee: Should feel like a fool before the spiritual master. That's what it means.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Yeah. I am fool. (laughing)
Devotee: No doubt.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: I am fool. (laughing) If you, if you... how Kṛṣṇa chastises. Prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase. You are number one fool. Thinking that you are so learned pandit, you are number one fool. Thinking you are so, so learned, wise. gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ. That verse is there. So... (laughing)
Devotee: Jaya Śrīla Gurudeva.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupada.