Divine Guidance
» Beauty and Charm
Where is Krishna? Our real want will be satisfied only by getting the service of Krishna; not by anything else. We want to satisfy the innermost demands of our hearts. We don’t care to know where we are or what is controlling everything, but we really want to quench our thirst for rasa, for madhurya, for sweetness. We must search neither for knowledge nor for the controller of this world; we must search after rasa, anandam, after beauty and charm. ~ from The Search for Sri Krishna by Swami B.R. Sridhar
Where is Krishna? Our real want will be satisfied only by getting the service of Krishna; not by anything else. We want to satisfy the innermost demands of our hearts. We don’t care to know where we are or what is controlling everything, but we really want to quench our thirst for rasa, for madhurya, for sweetness. We must search neither for knowledge nor for the controller of this world; we must search after rasa, anandam, after beauty and charm. ~ from The Search for Sri Krishna by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» My boy, look at Me
The Lord is always there, even in the worst period of our lives. He is waiting, waiting to help us. We must only look up for His grace, with sincerity with all sincerity. He is everywhere, waiting; "My boy, look at Me. Don't make much of the external environment. I am here, very near to you. You have cast your focus aside, you have cast your consciousness outside. Make it internal and you will find Me here. Make it above. You are looking down to secure servants and comforts, but if you look up, for existence higher than you, you will find Me in that plane. Look up! Don't look down, searching for servants." - from Focusing on Our Fortune by Swami B.R. Sridhar
The Lord is always there, even in the worst period of our lives. He is waiting, waiting to help us. We must only look up for His grace, with sincerity with all sincerity. He is everywhere, waiting; "My boy, look at Me. Don't make much of the external environment. I am here, very near to you. You have cast your focus aside, you have cast your consciousness outside. Make it internal and you will find Me here. Make it above. You are looking down to secure servants and comforts, but if you look up, for existence higher than you, you will find Me in that plane. Look up! Don't look down, searching for servants." - from Focusing on Our Fortune by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Save me
“I surrender. You may do whatever you like with me. I am the worst of sinners. What to do with me now is in your hands. You, Savior, I have come to you. If there is any possibility—save me. This is my open appeal, my one-sided appeal.” This sort of self-abnegation will automatically cleanse our hearts. By this attitude of saranagati, or surrender, we invite the greatest attention from above. Saranagati, surrender, is the only way to be reinstated in our lost prospect.” ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
“I surrender. You may do whatever you like with me. I am the worst of sinners. What to do with me now is in your hands. You, Savior, I have come to you. If there is any possibility—save me. This is my open appeal, my one-sided appeal.” This sort of self-abnegation will automatically cleanse our hearts. By this attitude of saranagati, or surrender, we invite the greatest attention from above. Saranagati, surrender, is the only way to be reinstated in our lost prospect.” ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Everything is Wonderful
Everything is full of wonder. If we analyze the atom, we will be in wonder. Only we impose limitations. But when we analyze the atomic parts of wood or stone, we will be in wonder. The infinite is everywhere. Perfection is everywhere. The trouble is that with our limited thinking we have produced a world of limits. But we who are captured by the “scientific” way of thinking are not ready to admit that. That is the puzzle. From the biggest to the smallest, from the lowest to the highest, everything is wonderful. ~ from Subjective Evolution of Consciousness by Swami B.R. Sridhar
Everything is full of wonder. If we analyze the atom, we will be in wonder. Only we impose limitations. But when we analyze the atomic parts of wood or stone, we will be in wonder. The infinite is everywhere. Perfection is everywhere. The trouble is that with our limited thinking we have produced a world of limits. But we who are captured by the “scientific” way of thinking are not ready to admit that. That is the puzzle. From the biggest to the smallest, from the lowest to the highest, everything is wonderful. ~ from Subjective Evolution of Consciousness by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Guru is the Key
From Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23):
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthao
prakaiante mahatmanao
“The key to success in spiritual life is unflinching devotion to both the spiritual master and Krishna. To those great souls who have full faith in both Krishna and the spiritual master, the inner meaning of the scriptures is fully revealed.”
From Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23):
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthao
prakaiante mahatmanao
“The key to success in spiritual life is unflinching devotion to both the spiritual master and Krishna. To those great souls who have full faith in both Krishna and the spiritual master, the inner meaning of the scriptures is fully revealed.”
» This Love Naturally Awakens
nitya-siddha krsna-prema 'sādhya' kabhu naya
śravanādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
Pure love for Krishna is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens. ~ Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya Lila 22.107
» So Many Mortal Things
We do not even know the extraordinary nature of our own self. It is of a very high order, but our attention is focused towards so many mortal things; we have been introduced to, and captured by, the meanest aspect of the world. This is the consequence of the mood of enjoyment. We want to enjoy, we want to exploit. A good exploiter is a king to us! But exploitation in itself is degrading, very mean and low. It takes us to the lowest position and makes us victims of a great reaction. ~ from Heart and Halo by Swami B.R. Sridhar
We do not even know the extraordinary nature of our own self. It is of a very high order, but our attention is focused towards so many mortal things; we have been introduced to, and captured by, the meanest aspect of the world. This is the consequence of the mood of enjoyment. We want to enjoy, we want to exploit. A good exploiter is a king to us! But exploitation in itself is degrading, very mean and low. It takes us to the lowest position and makes us victims of a great reaction. ~ from Heart and Halo by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» I Shall Be Good
We are what doing? Arrangement, making arrangement for Sankirtan. If there is no Sankirtan there is no result. And Sankirtan will be without offense. And first offense is satam ninda namnah param aparadham vitanute that meant sadhu ninda we not with... abuse anyone. Who is sadhu we do not know. Then we will be protected with that thought. I shall be good. You are good or bad, that is another thing. But first I shall be good, and with that knowledge if I shall proceed, I shall get benefit. ~ from Sharanagati To Humility, Tolerance & Giving Honor To Others Krsna.cc radio archives, by Swami B.S. Govinda
We are what doing? Arrangement, making arrangement for Sankirtan. If there is no Sankirtan there is no result. And Sankirtan will be without offense. And first offense is satam ninda namnah param aparadham vitanute that meant sadhu ninda we not with... abuse anyone. Who is sadhu we do not know. Then we will be protected with that thought. I shall be good. You are good or bad, that is another thing. But first I shall be good, and with that knowledge if I shall proceed, I shall get benefit. ~ from Sharanagati To Humility, Tolerance & Giving Honor To Others Krsna.cc radio archives, by Swami B.S. Govinda
» That Sort of Heart
It is the nature of one who appreciates the highest that he will think himself to be in the lower position. We find this in the practices and sayings of the great men. It is a question of trnad api sumcena, taror api sahisnuna, and this is a necessary qualification of a devotee. We must have that sort of qualification, that sort of heart. That must not be an artificial thing but if we are not ready to think ourselves lower, we cannot come in connection with the higher. ~ from Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Volume 3 by Swami B.R. Sridhar
It is the nature of one who appreciates the highest that he will think himself to be in the lower position. We find this in the practices and sayings of the great men. It is a question of trnad api sumcena, taror api sahisnuna, and this is a necessary qualification of a devotee. We must have that sort of qualification, that sort of heart. That must not be an artificial thing but if we are not ready to think ourselves lower, we cannot come in connection with the higher. ~ from Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Volume 3 by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» The Service of the Holy Name
The service of dham frees one from the jaws of Illusion, the terribly wrong theory that a jiva or creature is himself God and Master, and that there is no existence, except in the human imagination, of the holy Name, Form, Attributes, Pastimes and Paraphernalia of Godhead. The service of Krishna's Desire saves one from the hand of the great foe of hankering for one's own sensuous gratification. One is thereby freed from serving the earthly passions and may be installed in the service of the Desire of the transcendental Despot, in the singing of the saving hymn of transcendental love. ~ from Testimony of Love by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
The service of dham frees one from the jaws of Illusion, the terribly wrong theory that a jiva or creature is himself God and Master, and that there is no existence, except in the human imagination, of the holy Name, Form, Attributes, Pastimes and Paraphernalia of Godhead. The service of Krishna's Desire saves one from the hand of the great foe of hankering for one's own sensuous gratification. One is thereby freed from serving the earthly passions and may be installed in the service of the Desire of the transcendental Despot, in the singing of the saving hymn of transcendental love. ~ from Testimony of Love by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
» The mind must be captured by Transcendence
“If at the time of dying I remember a dog then I shall go to the womb of a dog. Such danger is there. So we must do everything for the service of our Srila Guru Maharaj, then nothing can disturb us. It is necessary that the mind be captured by the transcendental environment.”
~ Swami B.S. Govinda
“If at the time of dying I remember a dog then I shall go to the womb of a dog. Such danger is there. So we must do everything for the service of our Srila Guru Maharaj, then nothing can disturb us. It is necessary that the mind be captured by the transcendental environment.”
~ Swami B.S. Govinda
» The Fickle and Mad Mind
Under the guidance of our mind we may try many things, but that is not really bhakti. Our mind is always going this way and that way. The fickle and mad mind can do anything, but a good result will not always come from that. If we do good things then a good result will come to us, if we do not, then a bad result will come to us; such is our position. We will gain relief from the illusory environment only if in an exclusive way we try to follow our Gurudeva. ~ from Divine Guidance by Swami B.S. Govinda
Under the guidance of our mind we may try many things, but that is not really bhakti. Our mind is always going this way and that way. The fickle and mad mind can do anything, but a good result will not always come from that. If we do good things then a good result will come to us, if we do not, then a bad result will come to us; such is our position. We will gain relief from the illusory environment only if in an exclusive way we try to follow our Gurudeva. ~ from Divine Guidance by Swami B.S. Govinda
» Help Comes From Above
Only when you really come in touch with the plane above maya can you fight against maya; only then will maya withdraw. We must have some shelter beyond maya from where we can fight with illusion. We are advised to take shelter of sadhus (saints) and shasrta (scriptures). Their help comes from above, and we must accept that help from the inner core of our hearts. ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
Only when you really come in touch with the plane above maya can you fight against maya; only then will maya withdraw. We must have some shelter beyond maya from where we can fight with illusion. We are advised to take shelter of sadhus (saints) and shasrta (scriptures). Their help comes from above, and we must accept that help from the inner core of our hearts. ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Slaves of the Truth
We are slaves of the truth. We are beggars for the pure current of truth that is constantly flowing: the fresh current. We are not charmed by any formality. I will bow down my head wherever I find the river of nectar coming down to me. When one is conscious that the Absolute Truth is descending to him from the highest domain, he will think, “I must surrender myself here.” ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
We are slaves of the truth. We are beggars for the pure current of truth that is constantly flowing: the fresh current. We are not charmed by any formality. I will bow down my head wherever I find the river of nectar coming down to me. When one is conscious that the Absolute Truth is descending to him from the highest domain, he will think, “I must surrender myself here.” ~ from Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» One with God?
A bona fide disciple must always remain fully awake to the fact that his highest spiritual fortune is but a gracious grant from the Absolute Lord, and not a matter of right to be demanded or fought out. Constitutionally, we are equipped only to be proper recipients of God’s favor. In this connection it should be clearly understood that an individual soul can never be substantially the same as the Absolute Person. Not even in his liberated or fully realized condition can an individual soul be one with Godhead. ~ From Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
A bona fide disciple must always remain fully awake to the fact that his highest spiritual fortune is but a gracious grant from the Absolute Lord, and not a matter of right to be demanded or fought out. Constitutionally, we are equipped only to be proper recipients of God’s favor. In this connection it should be clearly understood that an individual soul can never be substantially the same as the Absolute Person. Not even in his liberated or fully realized condition can an individual soul be one with Godhead. ~ From Sri Guru and His Grace by Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Jiv Jago!
jiv jago, jiv jago gauracanda bole
kota nidra jao maya-pisacira kole!
Is this the clarion call or what? We are sleeping on the lap of Maya in ignorance but the clarion call is coming, "Wake up!" The Upanishads say, uttishata jagrata prapya varan nibodhata, "Wake up, arise and begin the search for Sri Krishna. Now is the time to get love for Krishna." The Upanishads, Bhaktivinode Thakur, the song of Krishna's flute; the gist of that sound, its wealth, is realized in connection with the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. Krishna is only attracted to his Divine Potency. She is serving Krishna wholeheartedly and very extensively with her associates. She is known as Radharani. And Krishna is always and only thinking of her. - Swami B.S. Govinda
» Through His Devotees
The Maya-Sakti is very heavy for us because we are very tiny souls. She is always attracting us through her illusion. In one way, it is for our rectification, no doubt, but it is not a happy position for the conditioned souls. However, we will get relief from this environment if we try to know our position, and what is Krishna consciousness. If we do this, then by the mercy of Krishna and His devotee we will get strength to come out from the illusory environment, and, when we try, Krishna will help us. That assistance comes to us through His devotees. - Swami B.S. Govinda
The Maya-Sakti is very heavy for us because we are very tiny souls. She is always attracting us through her illusion. In one way, it is for our rectification, no doubt, but it is not a happy position for the conditioned souls. However, we will get relief from this environment if we try to know our position, and what is Krishna consciousness. If we do this, then by the mercy of Krishna and His devotee we will get strength to come out from the illusory environment, and, when we try, Krishna will help us. That assistance comes to us through His devotees. - Swami B.S. Govinda
» What is Krishna consciousness?
What is Krishna consciousness? Krishna consciousness means real love and beauty. Real love and beauty must predominate; not selfishness, or exploitation. Generally, whenever we see beauty, we think that beauty is to be exploited, but actually, beauty is the exploiter, beauty is the master, and beauty is the controlling principle. - Swami B.R. Sridhar
What is Krishna consciousness? Krishna consciousness means real love and beauty. Real love and beauty must predominate; not selfishness, or exploitation. Generally, whenever we see beauty, we think that beauty is to be exploited, but actually, beauty is the exploiter, beauty is the master, and beauty is the controlling principle. - Swami B.R. Sridhar
» Bhagavad-Gita (4.34)
“To understand transcendental knowledge, you must approach a self-realized soul, accept him as your spiritual master, and take initiation from him. Inquire submissively and render service unto him. Self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you, for they have seen the truth.”
“To understand transcendental knowledge, you must approach a self-realized soul, accept him as your spiritual master, and take initiation from him. Inquire submissively and render service unto him. Self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you, for they have seen the truth.”
More videos from Murali Mohan Prabhu!
Thursday 13 December 2007 What a devotee! Thanks for sharing the mercy Murali!Sunday Feast - Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu - December 9, 2007
Sunday Feast - Sripad Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaja - December 2, 2007
Sunday Feast - Sripad Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaja - November 25, 2007
New Videos from Soquel
Tuesday 20 November 2007 Murali Mohan Prabhu sent me links to some recent video from Soquel. Go ahead, get the mercy
Goswami Maharaj last night, 11/19/07:
Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance (w. Srila Gurudev):
Govardhana Puja (w. Srila Gurudev):
Jai Gurudev!
Audio from Soquel
Tuesday 06 November 2007Murali Mohan Prabhu has posted several recordings from the temple room at the Soquel Seva Ashram here.
Please keep checking this link regularly, as Gurudeva will reside in Soquel over the next month. All Glories to Murali Mohan Prabhu's seva!
Video from Veracruz
Tuesday 30 October 2007Vaidehi Devi from Soquel posed a video of Srila Gurudeva, please click the image below to view. Sorry if the file is a bit large, if you have limited bandwidth please consider a download before viewing. Srila Govinda Maharaj ki jaya!
Need Help with Content!
Tuesday 23 October 2007Dandavats to all the devotees, I have a problem:
My personal work has increased enormously while my health has also been bad, and I don't have the ability right now to post to this site regularly. I would really love if some devotees of SCSMath in the US could help post articles and pictures to this site. With Gurudeva's upcoming visit I'm sure lots will have much wonderful association and have lots to share. I will be personally lucky to just get to Soquel on weekends.
If you are interested in contributing, please send me an email via the contact form and I'll get back to you ASAP. Posting is just about as easy as writing an email, so everyone is welcome to participate.
Jaya Gurudeva!
New audio published at Math homepage
Thursday 30 August 2007
Audio: "This is our Guru
Maharaj's divine gift for us -- we can understand that if we
take shelter in Mahaprabhu's conception we must go to Srila Saraswati
Thakur and the conception of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. So many books,
so many songs, so many things are his gift and everything is a very,
very perfect expression."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's
informal morning darshan, 14 June 2007.
(35+ minutes,
4.1 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 8.2 MB.)
Audio: "All is related. Who
has vision, he can collect from everywhere. But not to deviate from
Krishna Consciousness, that only be careful, otherwise you will lose
everything. All is helpful to go to Krishna consciousness, Krishna
conception."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 15 March 2007.
(36+ minutes,
4.3 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 8.5 MB.)
Soquel: Kid's Class at the Ashram
Saturday 11 August 2007
Per Vaidehi: "The kid's
class was started by Vidura Krishna prabhu several years ago when we
were all "kids". Now we are no longer "kids" so to speak but the
gathering has kept its name." Click here for the whole story.
Santa Cruz: Bhakti Yoga Club at Cabrillo College
Saturday 11 August 2007
Vaidehi Devi from the Soquel Seva Ashram posted some photos from the ongoing program at Cabrillo College, Click here for the whole story.
Srila Govinda Maharaj to visit California!
Friday 03 August 2007
Sripad B.P. Janardan Maharaj asked me to mention that His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar dev Goswami Maharaj will be visiting California soon! Srila Gurudeva will be here in California from Halloween till the last week of November. Please visit the California centers for more information. Gurudeva ki jaya!
Sri Caitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram
2900 North Rodeo Gulch Road
Soquel, CA 95073, U.S.A.
Phone: (831) 462-4712
Fax: (831) 462-9472
http://california.scsmath.org
Sri Caitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram
269 E. Saint James Street
San Jose
Ca 95112, U.S.A
Phone: (408) 288 6360 and (408) 287-6360
Santa Cruz: San Lorenzo Park Saturday Market
Saturday 21 July 2007
Vaidehi Devi from the Soquel Seva Ashram posted a nice page on the ongoing program at the San Lorenzo Park Saturday Market. You can find her page here.
Recent audio darshans from Srila Gurudeva
Wednesday 06 June 2007
Again, just catching up. I use this site as my own personal archive of the related Math media on the web, so sorry if it seems redundant. I actually am just copying and pasting here I just don't want to lose track of these as they disappear off the Math's main page.
Audio: "Today is the Disappearance Day of Ramananda Ray.
Two exclusive General preachers and servitors of Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu: one is Swarup Damodar, and another is Ramananda Ray."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 7 May 2007.
(36+ minutes, 4.2 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 8.4 MB.)
Audio: "Everyone is related with this theory:
not to be envious, and not to be violent, and not to kill others. Here
all religion is the same like that. All the devotional mood and spirit
within this is same. But there some classification Mahaprabhu
Chaitanyadev has given, and that is the best for the Kali-yuga
entities, jiva souls, that is: sravan kirttan."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 2 May 2007.
(28+ minutes, 3.3 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 6.5 MB.)
Audio: Chastity and sincerity will give super position. "When
we are initiated and we are surrendered to Guru, that surrender will
not be for show, surrender must be pure. I am always telling to our
friends: chastity and sincerity will give super position."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 13 March 2007.
(29+ minutes, 3.4 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 6.7 MB.)
Back in the saddle again...
Wednesday 06 June 2007 I had some technical difficulties and a severe lack of free time (and a whole lot of Maya) but I'm back in control of my site software and can now post something here. I guess the good news is there is a whole lot of nectar out there to catch up on. Please find the latest photos that were posted at Veranda Views at the links below. Jaya Gurudeva! Hari Bol!
Photo series posted May 29, 2007
Photo series posted May 22, 2007
Nabadwip: Missed audio files
Monday 14 May 2007
I have been too distracted lately and meant to post these earlier, my goal being to keep all the audio available on the Math website in one category on this site for easy reference. Anyhow, please find the nectar flowing below
Audio: "Chintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa vrksa.... One
Laksmi full of opulence we will see at Narayan's lotus feet, but here
in Vrindavan, millions of Laksmis are serving Govindam who is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Brahma-samhita expressed so
beautifully, widely and gloriously, Sri Govinda Dham."
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 3 May 2007.
(35+ minutes, 4.1 MB mp3 audio in higher quality: 8.1 MB.)
Audio: Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda
Dev-Goswami Maharaj chants the glories of Prahlad Maharaj, and relates the lila of Sri Nrsimhhadev's appearance.
(45+ minutes, 5.3 MB mp3 audio also in higher quality: 10.5 MB.)
Audio: Leading kirttan on Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi at the conclusion of the first part of the early evening programme in the nat-mandir.
(3+ minutes, 600 K mp3 audio)
Nabadwip: For the Birds
Monday 14 May 2007
Jamuna Priya Devi posted lots of nice pictures of Gurudeva and the devotees, as well as a few of the local wildlife. Per Jamuna: "These barn owls live in the belfry of the temple."
See more new pictures here.
