If Someone Urinates on You

by Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

[This class is a continuation of the discussion of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's book, Sri Bhagavata Arka Maricimala]

[Badger, California: June 17, 2005 (Part 1)]

Giving class in Badger

[Bhajanas at Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha in Mathura began at 6.45 am, and Srila Narayana Maharaja began his glorification of Prabhupada at 7.15 am. He summarized Prabhupada's glorious life history beginning with his glorious birth, and then proceeding to his youth, his joining the Gaudiya Matha, his preaching in India, his taking of sannyasa (in that very temple in which the class was going on), his travel to the West and his miracle of quickly spreading Krsna consciousness in all the remote corners of the world.

At 8.15 Srila Narayana Maharaja led the Western and Indian devotees present in offering arati and puspanjali to Prabhupada, and then the devotees partook of an opulent feast in his honor. Soon after that the temple devotees began serving Nanda Maharaja's feast to over 10,000 guests.

Srila Maharaja's lecture will be transcribed and sent to you later, and in the meantime please accept this lecture below. Srila Maharaja spoke the following glorification of Prabhupada in Varsana, India, on Oct. 12, 1996, in honor of Prabhupada's disappearance day. This excerpt was never published before:]

His Speciality

I have known him personally since 1946, and I never saw him like that. I know personally that he has not only come only to give vaidhi-bhakti. He has come to preach rupanuga-bhakti.

One special quality I saw in him was that he was very simple, and always smiling. Before him, other preachers from India had gone to Western countries. They were very intelligent and knew all philosophical truths, but they were not so simple that they could mingle with everyone, including children. I have seen Srila Swami Maharaja; he used to play with little children and he was so funny. He had no false ego.

He always used simple words, and his method of giving Krsna consciousness was like that of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was traveling to Vrndavana He chanted "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna." Or, He chanted:

krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he.

krsna kesava krsna kesava krsna kesava pahiman

rama raghava rama raghava rama raghava raksaman

He continually wept, and it appeared as though the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers were flowing from His eyes. He was not thinking about where He was going. He was simply weeping and calling out, "Krsna Krsna, Krsna Krsna." And, by His influence, all the elephants, tigers, lions and bears of the forest also began to chant "Hare Krsna." Where was their philosophy? They were without philosophy.

So Srila Swami Maharaja went to the West and began to chant:

sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda

sri advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura bhakta vrinda

At first he did not try to explain many deep philosophical topics. He spoke very simply and told his audiences, "Chant Lord Krsna's name." From there he began. He used to love everyone, whether they were qualified or not; and those who met him became his.

This is one speciality of a qualified guru: all his disciples will think, "My Gurudeva loves me more than anyone." Srila Swami Maharaja was like this. I think that all his disciples used to consider, "My Gurudeva loves me most." He would joke and be jolly with anyone, even his disciples, and even children used to love him automatically. In big, big assemblies and meetings he very simply taught the truths of Krsna Consciousness.

When I went to the Western countries I followed in his footsteps. I did not discuss very complex Vedanta philosophy. I only gave simple Harikatha, and by his mercy and the mercy of my Gurudeva, so many were charmed.

Previous to his coming to the West, big scholars of the Gaudiya mission went to England and America; but practically speaking they were not able to make any disciples. On the other hand, we see that by his simplicity, by his very simple philosophical presentations, by preaching the holy name and loving all, he was so successful. Of course, the deepest philosophy was in that. Love is the deepest, most supreme philosophy.

Transcriber: Janaki dasi

Editor: Syamarani dasi

HTML: Bhutabhavana dasa