A True Servant鈥擜 True Master
by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja | 2021 | 174,865 words
This page relates 鈥業nstructions for residents of the Matha,...鈥� of book鈥�"A True Servant, A True Master" which offers a collection of 128 handwritten letters by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja鈥攁 revered figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. This book showcases the profound spiritual insights and practical guidance on executing devotional service and addresses both Sadhakas (male practitioners) and Sadhikas (female practitioners) with equal respect.
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Letter 109 - Instructions for residents of the 惭补峁环补,...
Instructions for residents of the 尘补峁环补 鈥� The qualities of those who really want to perform 蝉腻诲丑补苍补-产丑补箩补苍补 鈥� 鈥淥ne should not give distress to any living being physically, mentally, or verbally, and one should forego one鈥檚 own happiness to help others鈥� 鈥� The instructions in 艢谤墨la Bhaktivinoda 峁琱腻办耻谤补鈥檚 song 鈥�膧尘腻谤补 闯墨惫补苍补鈥� are vital aids to bhajana
啶多啶班 啶多啶班 啶椸啶班-啶椸啶班ぞ啶權啶椸 啶溹く啶む
艣r墨 艣r墨 guru-gaur膩峁単au jayata岣�
艢谤墨 艢测腻尘补蝉耻苍诲补谤补 骋补耻岣嵞珁补 惭补峁环补 Milanpalli, P.O.鈥擲iliguri Darjeeling (North Bengal) 3/8/1992
厂苍别丑腻蝉辫补诲别峁鈥�
鈥斺�攈as not settled on a month in which to commence the work on the 贬补谤颈诲惫腻谤补 尘补峁环补, which is why I have not been able to provide that [auspicious date to start]. Last time, when we were installing the cornerstone of the 尘补峁环补 there, many different opinions and arguments and counterarguments came up. It would be best if you consulted 艢谤墨p膩da 狈腻谤腻测补峁嘺 惭补丑腻谤腻箩补 in that regard and settled on an auspicious day. If that can happen, then there will be no scope for complaint later.
I saw that some pilgrims were excited that there would be a 艢谤墨 Vraja-尘补峁囜笉补濒补 辫补谤颈办谤补尘腻 by foot. Later, many were disappointed when they heard it was going to be by reserved bus. 艢谤墨p膩da鈥斺�敳巡钩竽灏迓岵� conveyed that latest news to [the devotees in] Siliguri. The previous bitter experience of Vraja 辫补谤颈办谤补尘腻 is even today a matter of sorrow and concern for the Siliguri pilgrims.
My program to stay here is not fixed, but you could say that my body is somewhat better than before. I think I am somewhat more relaxed here than elsewhere. I do not like worldly chitchat one bit; my mind wants to stay in a somewhat solitary mood. Therefore, I will make arrangements as I come to understand the situation.
I have no new instructions regarding the printing of books and so forth. You can put into action what I have said before. Whether you do so or not depends on all of you. It is not appropriate for me to be overbearing at this old age. I have decided it is prudent to feel and contemplate everything but remain quiet. The sad thing is that I will not always be able to adapt to your views and ideas. You should all do what is best for you and live happily and peacefully.
In the 尘补峁环补-mandira, one ought to live only for the service of 艢谤墨 Hari, guru, and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补蝉. Rather than doing that, nowadays, personal interests and opportunism have trampled the 尘补峁环补鈥檚 core principles and ideals, putting aside concern for the 尘补峁环补 and mission as a whole. Those who are keen on performing 蝉腻诲丑补苍补-产丑补箩补苍补 do not harbour hatred, violence, and envy. They deal only in love, affection, and fondness and are initiated in the dharma of not seeking honour while giving all respect to others. They are not desperate for profit, adoration, and prestige. They are never greedy for wealth, nor are they artha-辫颈艣腻肠补 [鈥渨ealth-witches鈥� who haunt people for money].
They just want to serve to the best of their ability and carry on.
啶曕ぞ啶�-啶え啷�-啶掂ぞ啶曕啶 啶啶班ぞ啶｀-啶ぞ啶む啶班 啶夃う啷嵿さ啷囙 啶ㄠぞ 啶︵た啶,
啶ぐ-啶夃お啶曕ぞ啶班 啶ㄠた啶� 啶膏啶� 啶ぞ啶膏ぐ啶苦が啷�K膩ya-mano-v膩kye pr膩峁嚹�-m膩tre udvega n膩 dibe,
para-upak膩re nija sukha p膩saribe[1]鈥淥ne should not give distress to any living being physically, mentally, or verbally, and one should forego one鈥檚 own happiness to help others.鈥�
This is the special characteristic and ornament of an individual who aspires to perform bhajana. The desire for revenge can never be promoted as a 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补 virtue.
Pride, arrogance, and conceit never want man to be well situated in life.
啶啷嵿い啶�-啶呧え啷佮啷傕げ 啶ぞ啶む啶� 啶曕ぞ啶班啶啶� 啶膏啶掂た啶曕ぞ啶�,
啶啷嵿い啶�-啶啶班い啶苦啷佮げ-啶ぞ啶� 啶掂ぐ啷嵿啶ㄠぞ啶權啶椸た啶曕ぞ啶�Bhakti-anuk奴la m膩tra k膩ryera svik膩ra,
bhakti-pratikula-bh膩va varjan膩峁単ik膩ra[2]鈥淥ne must accept only those activities that are favourable for devotion and adopt a policy of shunning any mood that is unfavourable for devotion.鈥�
This is the resolute fortitude of mind and rigorous conviction possessed by a person who is surrendered and has offered his very soul. In 艢谤墨la Bhaktivinoda 峁琱腻办耻谤补鈥檚 song 鈥�膧尘腻谤补 闯墨惫补苍补 厂补诲腻 笔腻辫别 Rata鈥�, there are very specific instructions regarding the relinquishment of that which is unfavourable for devotion. Those instructions are of vital aid to our bhajana.
At present, I am somewhat healthy. Still,
啶掂ぞ啶班啶о啷嵿く啷� 啶忇啷嬥え, 啶啷嵿-啶班啶椸 啶灌い, 啶曕啶え啷� 啶啶苦が啷� 啶啶侧
v膩rdhakye ekhona, pa帽ca-roge hata, kemane bhajibo bolo?[3]
鈥淣ow in old age, afflicted by diseases of the five senses, tell me, how will I perform bhajana?鈥�
This is my bad luck and misfortune. I do not want to applaud the power, competence, or ability of any thing or person of this Earth, only that of 艢谤墨 Hari, guru, and 痴补颈峁ａ箛补惫补蝉. The potency conferred by 叠丑补驳补惫腻苍 gives us all the strength we need for 蝉腻诲丑补苍补-bhajana. I am a believer in this truth and optimistic in that regard. All of you please accept my affectionate blessings. Iti鈥�
Forever your well-wisher,
艢谤墨 Bhaktived膩nta 痴腻尘补苍补