Sambanda

'Once, Our Gurudev was engaged in programs in Punjab. For a few days He had been delivering lectures at a Sita-Ram temple. One lady had been coming to every program and one day, asked a question: 'I have been coming to this temple for 50 years now. Regularly, I come. I do circumambulation of the mandir, engage in kirtan, and every day come for arotiks. Whenever a sadhu comes, I always come to hear from them. After so much time doing worship, I do not see any fruits of this. At the same time, my relations with my family members; my attachment to them has only increased. Why?' Gurudev liked this question very much. He said to all the people present: 'This is such a good question that you all should hear the answere to. You also have been coming for so long and are in her same condition. Please come tomorrow and I will give the answer to you all.' The next day came and he first asked her a question: 'when these sadhus come, have you ever once asked them: 'who am I?, who are Sita-Ram?, what is my relation with Sita-Ram?' She said that she had never asked this.

Our Param Gurudev, Sreela Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, used to stress this so much to His disciples: You must do your practice with Sambanda. There is a natural progression of Sambanda (knowledge and faith in who we are, what this world is, who Krishna is, and what our relationship with Him is), Abhideya (spiritual practice), and Prayojana (the ultimate goal). So if you are doing so much spiritual practice thinking: 'I am of this world, I am for my son, my wife, my father', then any fruits that come from your practice will only increase your material ego. If we want to make progress, then we must do our practice with the proper Sambanda: 'I am of Krishna, this world is the external potency of Krishna, Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He attracts all and pleases all. My relation with Him is as an eternal servant.'

You can do so much practice; come to arotik, engage in kirtan, do circumambultation of the mandir, hear from sadhus, but if you do it thinking: 'I am of this world, then the fruit of your practice will go to your material ego.'

If we want to progress, we must wake up in the morning, go to bed at night, and all day remember Mahaprabhu's instructions to Sanatan Goswami. We are of Krishna, remember Him, never forget Him, do Hari Kirtan. Engage all your senses, your body, and especially your mind in Krishna's service. This should always be on our mind.

--- HDG Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj