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Sri Guru-carana-padma
The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru
Sri Guru-carana-padma
The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru

Sri Srimad
Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja

A lecture delivered 31 May 1994, American Canyon, USA

TATTVA VICARA PUBLICATIONS

www.tvpbooks.com
www.gourgovindaswami.com
Sri Snmad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
Snla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
Sri Guru-carana-padma
— The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru
Sri Guru Is Eternally Present
A Special Type of Honey
A Lotus in the Ocean of Bhakti-rasa
Where Can I Get Relief?
Sri Guru-pada-padma-madhu
—The Honey Emanating from the Lotus Feet of Sri Guru
The Madhu that Purifies the Heart
The Perfect Unfailing Medicine
Sri Guru Is Saksat-hari
♦
Untouched by the Three Modes of Material Nature
The Lotus Blossoms Upon Seeing the Rising of the Sun
The Petals Close when the Sun Sets
Achieve the Minimum Stage of Nistha
Cry for the Mercy of Guru
Gurudeva!
The Last Limit of Guru-tattva
Sevya-bhagavan and Sevaka-bhagavan
Krsna Appears in the Form of Guru
Krsna-krpa-srl-murti
—The Embodiment of Krsna1 s Mercy
Sri Guru Is Radha-priya-sakhi
Worship Sri Guru with the Utmost Care
Gurudeva Opens Krsna’s Samsara
You Have to Approach Sri Guru
Join Krsna-seva-yajna
 Sri Guru'Carana-padma
The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru

I
am very happy that by the causeless mercy of Sri Sri Guru
and Gaurariga I have come here to meet you all. Unless
you get their mercy how can you go deeper? How can you
cross over this dreadful ocean of material existence and reach the
shore beyond the material world to the abode of the Lord, which
is our eternal home? Therefore, we offer our prayer at the lotus
feet of that guru who is the expert navigator who can ferry us
across this dreadful ocean, and take us there.

srl guru-carana-padma, kevala bhakatTsadma,

vando mui savadhana mate
jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krsna^prapti hoy a jdhd hate

“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way
by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his
lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can
cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of
Krsna.” (Sri Gunovrmdand verse 1, from Premn-b/iakti-candrilcd
by Naro trama dasa Thakura)
 It is only by the mercy of Sri Guru that one will be able to
cross over this dreadful ocean of material existence, develop /crsnri-
bhakti and get Krsna. This is Sri Guru’s krpa, his mercy.

Sri Guru Is Eternally Present

Sn guru-caram-padm/i, kevala-bhakati-sadma — the lotus feet

of Sn Guru are the only abode of bhakti, bhakti-sadma. I offer my
prayers, I offer my obeisances, there, savadhdrin mate, with the
utmost care. Don’t he careless!
One should understand the meaning of sn guru-carana-
padma. The word sri is very significant. Sri has different
meanings: sobha, beauty; sampada, transcendental wealth, or asset;
and srestha, topmost. Sri Guru means rhe guru who is endowed
with sri, the guru who is endowed with fn'ema-bhakti. This word
sn can only be used for a guru who is present, who is manifest. So
guru is eternally manifest; therefore we say Sri Guru. There is no
question that Sri Guru becomes un-manifest or that he disappears. iF

If that were the case we could use the word sn. In this world, Sn
Guru is the only beauty, the only asset, the only wealth. There is
nothing else. Sri Guru is mtya, eternally present.

A Special Type of Honey

Sriguru-carann-padnui. Carana means the feet of Sri Guru, and

padma means lotus; the lotus feet of Sri Guru are compared to the
lotus. This is also very significant. Why are they compared to the
lotus and not to anything else? The lotus flower looks beautiful
 The Lotus Feet of Sn Guru

and it has sweet honey inside. The bumblebee collects honey from
many flowers, but that it collects from the lotus flower is special.
There is a difference between the honey collected from ordinary
flowers and the honey collected from the lotus flower. The honey
that the bumblebee collects from the lotus flower is a special type
of honey known as padma^madhu. (Padma means lotus, madhu
means honey.) And that sisya who is like a bumblebee, who is
very hungry and greedy to have that honey, relishes it.

A Lotus in the Ocean of Bhakti-rasa

The lotus flower grows in water but remains untouched by

it. One of the synonyms (prati-sabda) of water is rasa, mellow. As
the lotus grows in water, similarly the lotus feet of Sri Guru are
like a lotus that grows in the ocean of bhakti-rasa. These lotus feet
are aprakrta, transcendental, not material. They are the abode of
transcendental bhakti-rasa, filled with mddhuri, all sweetness and
beauty, and very relishable. Just as the lotus looks very beautiful
to the eye, nayana-abhirdma, and attractive to the heart, citta-
akarsaka, because it is shining attractively, similarly, in the eye of
the disciple the lotus feet of guru also glisten with affection.

Where Can I Get Relief?

The activities of Sri Guru, as well as his form, qualities and

pastimes, are all very beautiful to the eyes of the sadhaka-bhakta, In
his meditation, he sees the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Guru. Upon
seeing those lotus feet he feels a soothing effect in his afflicted
 u Sri Guru-carana-padma

heart. He is afflicted with three tapas, sufferings: ddhydtmika,

sufferings arising from one’s own mind and body; adhidaivika,
sufferings arising from nature; and adhibhautika, sufferings arising
from other living entities.
J* When the disciple meditates on the
beautiful lotus feet of Sri Guru his affliction is cooled down and
he simultaneously also perceives the fragrance coming from the
lotus feet of Sri Guru, like the sweet scent that comes from the
lotus.
The bhramara, bumblebee, wanders everywhere; he goes to
various types of flowers. There is one type of flower that grows in
India, which is known as the ketaki flower. It has a very nice scent
and it has thorns like the rose plant, the only difference being
that the thorns of the ketaki flower grow on its petals. When the
bumblebee attracted by the scent goes to the ketaki flower, his
wings get caught and are torn by the thorns and he gets so much
pain. He thinks, Oh, my wings are torn and I am in so much pain.
Where can I go? Where can I go where there is shelter, where
there is no pain, no affliction, and only peace? Where can I get
relief? After wandering here and there, at last he comes to the
lotus flower and finds cool, soothing shelter. Oh, such a soothing
place is here! So he takes shelter in the lap of the lotus flower,
which gives him a cooling effect. Besides that, the lotus allows the
bumblebee to suck its sweet honey and get nourishment.

Similarly, the jiva — brahmdnda brahmite kona bhdgyavdn jiva

— wanders in innumerable universes throughout innumerable
species of life in the material world, and he is getting only
suffering, misery, pain and torture; no happiness, no cooling
effect. He is only burning in the samsdra-ddudna/a, the blazing
forest fire of material life. This material world is compared to a
blazing forest fire. Generally no one lights a fire in a forest, but
fire ignites automatically when two pieces of wood, effected by

4
 The Lotus Feet of Sn Guru

the wind, rub together, and the whole forest burns. The animals
suffer greatly from this burning. Similarly, in this material
world, the conditioned souls are burned by the three types of
sufferings: ddhydtmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika, They get a
burning sensation. So, after wandering in innumerable species of
life, at last a bhagyamnjiva, a fortunate soul, comes to the lotus
feet of Sri Guru and finds shelter in the cooling shade at guru’s
lotus feet. Sri Guru gives him shelter, and just as the bumblebee
sucks the sweet honey from the lotus, similarly, guru^pada^padma,
the lotus feet of guru, allows that soul to suck the nice honey
there and get real nourishment, premananda, real happiness.

Sri Guru-pada-padma-madhu Jf-

The Honey Emanating from the Lotus Feet of Sri Quru

The honey, podma-nuidhu, collected from the lotus flower is

a special type of honey. It has medicinal properties for curing eye
disease. When there are impurities in the eye and one cannot see
clearly and when there is pain, an Ayurvedic doctor recommends
using Jxidma-madhu, because it will clear the eye of impurities
and you will be able to see clearly. The drsti^sakti, will develop.
Thereby you will be able to see very subtle things which you could
not have seen otherwise. This padma^madhu has such special
qualities. This is mentioned in Ayurveda sdstra. Similarly, guru-
p^da-pudmu^mndhu, the honey emanating from the lotus feet of
guru, is so sweet, so nectarean! If a fortunate bhakta gets it and can
relish it, then all materialism will he washed away. The material
eye is covered with the dense darkness of ignorance. Therefore,
we offer this prayer:
 om ajndna-timiiYmdhasya
jndndnjfma-sa lakaya
caksur unmiiitam yena
tasmai srugurave namah

“I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual

master, out of causeless mercy, opened my eyes with the torch
of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”

One who takes shelter at the divine lotus feet of guru receives
his mercy. The guru allows that surrendered soul to taste the sweet
honey - nectar emanating from his lotus feet. That is the medicine
by which all his material contamination will be removed, and
he will develop transcendental vision. In the dense darkness
of ignorance, ajndna-andhakai’a, he was blinded by materialism.
Now that ignorance has been dispelled, he receives divyaj'hdna-'
caksu, the eye of divine knowledge: guru imparts tauva-)nanay and
by the mercy of guru he develops transcendental vision. With that
transcendental eye, or vision, he will be able to see the beautiful
form of Syamasundara. There is no more darkness, or ignorance,
only effulgent light. This is how the honey that emanates from
the lotus feet of guru works. It is wonderful. Therefore, this verse
says, sri guru-carana-padma. Why and how the feet of Sri Guru are
compared to a lotus, is most significant.

The Madhu that Purifies the Heart

Another point is there. The padma^madhu cures and cleanses

the impurities in the eyes, but it cannot clean the impurities in
the heart, whereas the honey emanating from the lotus feet of

6
 The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru

guru has wonderful characteristics: it cures both the eye as well

as the heart. This is sn gurH-caiunu-padma-madhif: it purifies the
heart, making it a suitable place for Govinda to take rest.

tomara hrdo^e sada govinda-visram

govinda kohena-mora misnnva pardn

“O Vaisnava Thakura, your heart is always the resting

place of Lord Govinda. Your heart is Vrndavana, the eternal
abode of Govinda. Govinda takes rest in your heart peacefully,
blissfully. He never leaves your heart.” (Vaisnate Vynupti)

Guru makes the heart of a surrendered disciple like that, by

giving him shelter at his feet.

The Perfect Unfailing Medicine

Another point is that the conditioned souls are all diseased.

They are suffering from various kinds of material ills,
a chronic disease. Some people have taken many medicines;
allopathic, homeopathic and Ayurvedic medicines but their
disease is not cured. It has become chronic, incurable. They have
lost their vitality. Because of this, they cannot digest any food.
They have tried many medicines but taking so much medicine
produces a bad effect. We see that many people are taking so
many strong drugs, but what is the effect? Their disease becomes
chronic; it becomes incurable. Although they eat, they cannot
digest; the digestive fire has become very low. A person in such a
condition cannot survive; he will die. He cannot digest anything.
He has already lost his vitality, so what can be done? Once this
condition is present, the kavfrdja advises that there is only one
 Sri Guru-carana-padma
u

thing he can eat: padma-madhu, that special type of honey. By

taking that padma-madhu, he will regain his vitality. When a
person is dying, he cannot eat food, but by administering that
special type of honey, he can regain his vitality.
Similarly, a jim who is wandering throughout innumerable
universes is getting only suffering and pain, and so many material
ills, b/inm-rogi. That jiva has already lost his vitality, jimrii-sakti,
and has now become completely hopeless. He is afflicted with an
incurable disease.
At last, disappointed by every side, he has the fortune to come
to the lotus feet of Sri Guru, who is a I'aidya, a physician as he knows
the perfect unfailing medicine to cure material ills. Sri
Guru knows why this person has been suffering and he knows the
disease that is causing his suffering. From innumerable lives that
jiva has been suffering the material ills ofthe material world. He
is without hope of survival. No medicine will act except one: the
honey emanating from the lotus feet of guru, giirn-pada-padma-
madhu. In the same way that a lotus flower allows the bumblebee
whose wings are torn by the thorns of the ketaki flower, to take its
shelter, sri guru^pada-padma, the lotus feet of guru allow a hopeless,
wandering soul to take shelter there and suck the honey. That
suffering soul is thus revitalised, gets nourishment and regains life.
This is why it is said ‘sri guru-carana-padirtak

Sri Guru Is Saksat-hari

*

saksnd-dhmi tvenn sdntas ta-sas trair

uktas tatha bhdvyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
 The Lotus Feet of Sn Guru

“The Spiritual Master is honoured as much as the Supreme

Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord.
This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and is followed
by all authorities. Therefore, I offer my most respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of my Spiritual Master, who is
a bona fide representative of Lord Hark” (Sri Sri Guw-oscaka
Verse 7 by Sr i la Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Guru is sdksdt-hari, as good as Hari. He does not belong to this

material world; he belongs to the spiritual world, Krsna’s world,
but because of his causeless mercy he comes down here. There
are two reasons for his coming. His heart bleeds upon seeing the
suffering of the fallen souls, so he voluntarily comes to mitigate
their suffering, to deliver them, or he comes by the direction of
the Lord, who tells him to go.

Untouched by the Three Modes of Material Nature

It is by the will of Krsna that such guru-pada-padma descends

here. He descends and stays here in the material world, to
shower mercy unto the suffering souls, those jims who from
time immemorial have been drowning in this dreadful ocean of
materialistic existence.

Someone may raise the question: “This is the material world,

the illusory world, and the three modes of material
nature are acting here, sattw, rajo and tamo; if guru comes here,
how can he stay and not be affected by it? How can he retain
his transcendental nature?” It is very easy to understand this by
the following example: the lotus flower lives and grows in water,
but it remains untouched by water. Similarly, although the guru
 u Sri Guru-carana-padma

comes here, he remains untouched. He never becomes affected

by the three modes of material nature. Therefore the lotus feet of
guru are compared to a lotus.
The bumblebee that remains in the core of a lotus that is
in water, is sheltered by the petals of that lotus. Thereby it also
remains untouched by the water. Similarly, if a fortunate disciple
has sincerely taken shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Guru, he does
not need to be afraid of this material world. He will not be affected
by material nature. This is the power of the lotus feet of Sri Guru.

The Lotus Blossoms

Upon Seeing the Rising of the Sun

Another point is that when the sun rises, the lotus blossoms,
and when the sun sets, the petals of the lotus close. The lotus feet
of Sri Guru work in a similar way. When the lotus sees the rising
of the sun, its petals open and it blossoms. Similarly, the petals
of the lotus of guru'pada open when he sees bhakti'Vrtti, a very
urgent, ardent and intense desire in the heart of a jim, the crying
in the heart of a suffering soul to get bhakti, to go back home back
to Godhead, to understand Krsna and to get Krsna. That is like
the rising of the sun.

The Petals Close when the Sun Sets

A disciple who has developed this intense burning desire

in his heart has been given shelter by guru-pada'padma, but we
often see in the course of time that a disciple loses his bhakta-
vrtti because of aparadha (ndma^aparadha or misndva-afwrad/id).
His bhakti'vrtti becomes shrunken. He is not carrying out the
 The Lotus Feet of Sn Guru

order of guru, he is not hearing the message of guru, he is not

accepting his instructions and not acting according to them, so he
is avoiding or disobeying guru. That means that the sun is setting
for him now. When the sun sets, the petals of the lotus close.
Similarly, the guru disappears from such a person. Of course, for a
very advanced devotee, who has already developed taste for this
transcendental mellow, this is not applicable. It is applicable for the
neophyte who has not made any advancement, and who has not
developed any taste for it. If that disciple commits some aparddha
and associates with offenders or materialistic persons and does
not take real sadhu-sariga, then this will take place. That means
that the sun will set for him. He disobeys the order of guru, he
violates his instructions and directions and acts according to his
own whims, so guru-pdda-fodmn will disappear from him.

This is not applicable for those who have already made

advancement and developed mature taste, jdta-rati, for this
transcendental mellow. They cannot leave it because it has
become their life and soul. They cannot survive without it. For
them guru^pada-padma never disappears. Such a devotee always
sees guru; he knows that guru is always with him. In all conditions
he is engaged in the loving service of guru-pada-padma, He is
a nisthdparaThakta. For that sadhaka who has achieved at least the
minimum stage of nistfid, guru will never disappear. For the sddhaka
who has not achieved the nistha stage, however, the apprehension
is there that guru may disappear from his vision if he commits
apm’ddha and violates gurus instructions and order. That means
that the sun will set and the petals of the lotus will close.
 Achieve the Minimum Stage of Nistha

Guru may be present here in this world or he may have

disappeared. When he has left this planet and is not present
physically anymore, still, that very advanced devotee, who has
already developed taste and has reached the minimum stage
of nisthd, and beyond ruci, asakti or bhnva, who is jdta-rati, is with
guru, he sees guru* guru never disappears from his vision. He
always sees the presence of his guru and always realises this, but
one should achieve the minimum stage of nisthd, otherwise the
apprehension that guru-pada-padma may disappear is there.

Cry for the Mercy of Guru

The sisya should cry for guru-krpa, the causeless mercy of the
guru. Unless you cry, how can you get krpd? Without crying, no
one can get it! For example, when a child cries, the mother runs
to him. “Oh, my child is crying.” The child cannot he pacified
by any means other than the mother’s presence. Because she is
engaged in performing household duties, the mother may give the
child a toy or a doll to play with, but the child will throw down
that toy or doll, and cry and cry. When the child cries, the mother
runs. Similarly, unless you cry, how can you get that mercy? This
crying is required. Therefore we sing this song: karund nd hoile,
kandiya kandiya, prana nd rdkhibo dra. We must cry and cry for the
mercy of guru. Those who have cried have received this mercy.
 The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru

Gurudeva!
by Srila Bhaktwmoda Thdkura

krpa-brndu diya, koro’ ei dose, trnapekha ati hina

sakalasahane, boh diyd koro nija mane sprhd-hina

sakale samman, korite sakati, deho’ ndtha! jathajatha

take to’ gaibo, harindma-sukhe, aparadha ha 'be hata

kabe heno krpat lobhiya e jana, krtartha hoibe, ndtha!

sakti-buddhohin, ami ati din, koro’ more dtma-satha

jogyatd^vicdre, kichu nahi pai, tomdra karund sara

karund nd hoile, kdndiya kdndvyd, prana nd rakhibo dra

Gurudeva 1 By a drop of your mercy, make this servant of

yours humbler than a blade of grass* Giving me strength to
bear all trials and troubles, make me devoid of all desires for
personal honour*

O lord and master! Please give me the power to properly

honour all living beings* Only then will 1 sing the holy name
in great ecstasy and all my offences cease*

O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your

mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence,
1 am very Low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.

Upon examining my value, I find that I have none; your

mercy is essential to me. Therefore, if you are not merciful 1
will constantly weep and I will not maintain my life any longer.

13
 u Sri Guru-carana-padma

Such crying is required. The child cannot get his mother’s

breast unless he cries. Similarly, unless you cry, how can you
J*

have the darsana of Sri Guru? You have to cry. When the disciple
cries, the guru runs to him, just as the mother runs to her child.
Karund-mnyaguru, he is very merciful, causelessly merciful. Out of
mercy he comes and gives darsann, while physically manifest, or
he comes in a dream and gives darsana when he is not manifested
anymore.

The Last Limit of Guru-tattva

This is guru'tattva. Guru-tattva is mtya-tattva, eternal tattva,

transcendental tattva. It is eternally manifest, frrakattL There is
no question of being unmanifested, aprakata, Sri guru'carana is
inconceivable. Through your material knowledge, intelligence
and merit you cannot understand this. Guru is nirya-parikma, an
eternal associate of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. This is guTU-tattva. He
is the associate of both Gaura and Krsna. Especially the last limit,
avadhi, of guru'tattva is nitydnandn-ttittm, nityrirwukGSLWTipti, and
A

Nityananda is eternally with Gaura, gaura-pctrikara. Similarly, Sri

Guru is an eternal associate of both Gaura and Krsna.
■ « V

Sevya-bhagavan and Sevaka-bhagavan

Between guru and Krsna there is no difference in tattva,

therefore it is said saksad-dharitvena: he is sdksdt-harit as good as
Lord Hari. The only difference is that one is dsraya-tottw and
the other is visaya-iattm* Lord Hari is visaya-iattva, whereas guru
 The Lotus Feet of Sn Guru

is tisraya-tatrua. Guru is semJca-b/kigawn, servitor Bhagavan,

and Krsna or Hari is seirya-bhagamn. Both are Bhagavan: sevya-
bhagavdn and sewki-bhagawn: visaya and dsraya. Otherwise, in
tattva they are one.

Krsna Appears in the Form of Guru

guru krsna-rupa hand sastrera pramane

guru-rupe krsna krpd karena bhakta-gane

According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed

scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Krsna. Lord
Krsna in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
(Caitanya-cmitzhrirta, Adblild 1.45)

Krsna showers His mercy in the form of guru. Without that

mercy one cannot understand Krsna, one cannot approach Him
and cannot go back home, back to Godhead. Krsna appears before
us in the form of guru. Guru appears here to help us and act as a
friend. By showering his causeless mercy he delivers us from the
unlimited suffering we have undergone from time immemorial.
As the Paramatma, who is present in the heart and is known
as caitya-guru^ He prompts us from within and gives us intelligence
whereby we act in a correct way. He guides us so that we do not
commit any errors or mistakes. This is the incomparable glory of
the lotus feet of Sri Guru. It is indescribable.

15
 Krsna-krpa-sri-murti
The Embodiment of Krsna’s Mercy

Both siksa-guru and diksa-guru are representative of Krsna,

and their krpat mercy is unlimited. There is no difference
between siksa-guru and diksa-guru.

yadyapi amara guru—caitanyera dasa

tathdpi jdniye ami tdhhara prakasa
(Caitanya-caritdmrta, Adi-lild 1.44)

Though my guru is a servant of Cai t any a, still I know he is

His manifestation, tarihdra prakdsa. This is tattva. Therefore we
say that Sri Gurudeva is krsna-krpa-sn-murti, the embodiment A

of krsna-krpa. If krsna-krpd assumes a body and appears, that is Sri

Gum. If someone develops guru-bhakti, then he gets Krsna. In the
Svetdsmtard Ufxmisad (6.23) is stated:

yosyn deve para bhaktir

yathd deve tathd gurau
tasyaite kathitd hy arthd
prakasante mahatmanah

There is no difference between guru-bhakti and hrsna-bhakti.

Yasya deve para bhaktir yathd deve tathd gurau f one who has
developed para-bhakti, supreme devotion towards Bhagavan as
well as towards guru is a very fortunate jma, soul. Unto him all
transcendental knowledge will manifest. He will understand the

16
 The Lotus Feet of Sri Guru

import of all rhe Vedas, Without this it will never manifest.

Sri Guru Is Radha-priya-sakhi

Sri Guru is a very dear associate of Ktsna, krsm-prtyo-jana. He

is rdd/id-pnya-ddsi, a dear girl companion of Radharam, a radha-
*
ddsi. Sri Guru is radhu-dusi, rddna^priyd^sakhi, a maidservant of
Radharani, like Rupa Manjari. Mula'guru'tattva, the original guru-
tattva is nit^dnanda-tattm. So, by gradually descending through
the parampara, that guru has come to us; that is nirydnanda-tattw.
Nitaicand is both diksa and siksa-guru, and caitya-guru is also the
manifestation of Nitaicand. He is guru-tattva. There is only a
difference of activity, iild, nothing else.
That is why we sing this song Sri guru-t^tram-ptidma by Srila
Narottama dasa Thakura, describing the significance of carana-
padma, the lotus feet of Sri Guru, and why they are compared to
the lotus flower.

T______ „ ¥

Worship Sri Guru with the Utmost Care

Vando mui sdvadhdna mate — you should offer prayers and

worship to him, vandana^ with the utmost care, sdtYidhdna mate.
There are three types of vandand: kdyiki, vdcika and mdnosika -
through your body, words, and mind. With our body, we fall flat on
the ground and offer our dandavat prandmas to Gurudeva - kdya-
vandana. Also, through your body, with whatever you have (it
may be money, material opulence), giving everything, you should
render service. If you have some followers, then with all of them,
your subordinates, you should also serve guru. Followers means
you have a family: you have a wife, a son, a daughter, servants,

17
 u Sri Guru-carana-padma

and friends. So, through all your family members and friends you
should serve guru. That is kdyika, physical service. Thus, through
kdyika t vacika, and mdnosika, your body, mind and speech, you
should offer prayers, obeisances and worship to the lotus feet of
guru. One should serve with all one’s capacity, which is why it
says vando mui savadhana mate — one should do vandana with the
utmost care.

Through our words, we offer prayers and glorify the guru,

which is vacika-vandana. One should also hear from the guru, hear
guru-m/cya, and speak whatever you have heard from the guru, to
others; allow others to hear through you. That is also using your
words. Poriprasm should also be there: If you have any doubts,
then you should humbly ask questions and get them clarified.
These are all types of wAkd-seva.

Through our mind, we always think of the beautiful, peaceful,

and transcendentally blissful lotus feet of guru. Always meditating
and thinking, cm tana, about them. In your mind you should also
put firm, unflinching faith in the words of the guru. You should
understand that “My guru manifests before me in various forms to
help me and to shower his mercy on me.” This is how one serves
the guru through one’s mind. That is mdnasika-mndana.

All Vaisnava
+ + sadhus in the world are manifestations of
Gurudeva. Guru^krpa, rhe mercy of guru is my only asset, nothing
else. Therefore we say, “vando mui savadhana mate — I do guru-
vandand with the utmost care.” Be careful and never be careless!

18
 Gurudeva Opens Krsna’s Samsara

Krsna is the only enjoyer. The jiva can never be the enjoyer.
Gurudeva teaches, “Whatever you find in this world is all
paraphernalia for Krsna’s enjoyment, not for your enjoyment/’
Just as we want to be free from the clutches of mayd, Bhagavan, the
Supreme Lord Krsna, also wants to take us out of mdyd’s clutches
and engage us in service to Him. Krsna is the only enjoyer, and His
desire for enjoyment is unlimited, ananta; thus He wants to enjoy
by taking everyone into His domain. We are tiny jivas. We have
no capacity to enjoy, because the jiva is not the enjoyer. We have
only developed this purusa abhimana, the thought that we will
enjoy. It is only a misconception, because the jrva has no capacity
to enjoy. Krsna has unlimited capacity to enjoy in unlimitedly
different ways, and the jiva is to he enjoyed, upabhogya. The jiva
is not bhoktd, the enjoyer. Guru tells me that I am an eternal
servant of Krsna, that I should be engaged in Krsna’s service, but
where is Krsna and where am I? How can I serve Him? Is Krsna
in the material world? No, Krsna is in the spiritual world, krsna-
samsara. Krsna’s world is Vaikuntha, where there is an abundance
* >1 * • ■ "

of enjoyment.
Krsna is there in His abode, vaikuntfia-rdjya, the spiritual
world, and we are here in the sakuntha-jagat, the miserable material
world. How then can we serve Him? Krsna has made a trick for
I V ■

us. What is that trick? That trick is Sri Gurudeva. Krsna has sent
» • 1

Gurudeva to the material world, and Gurudeva has spread Krsna’s

samsdra here. That is Krsna’s desire, “Let My samsdra manifest
in this world.” All sdd/ius and mahdjanas are gurus, so Krsna has
sent them to manifest His samsdra. The Supreme Lord has not
told them, “You go and do your own samsdra.” Rather, Krsna has

19
 u Sri Guru-carana-padma

said, “You go there and do My samsdra.” So, by Krsna’s desire,

Gurudeva has come to this material world and opened Krsna’s
samsdra. Krsna is his eternal master, nitya-svdmi. Gurudeva has
completely surrendered and dedicated his life, kdya-mana-vdkya,
his body, mind and speech, his soul, everything to Him. That is
I*

Sri Guru: He takes those who take shelter at his lotus feet and
makes them enter Krsna’s samsdra. Gurudeva tells us, “I am doing
Krsna’s samsdra, giving everything for the enjoyment of Krsna.
Please come and enter into Krsna’s samsdra, then you will be
free from the clutches of mdya. You will he free from all material
sufferings.”

You Have to Approach Sri Guru

Gurudeva may sit in any secluded place and engage himself

in his bhajana. He may sit by the side of Radha-kunda or Syama-
kunda, and erect a cottage there to do his bhajana. But why has
he come here, especially to the Western world, where may a is
very strong and where gross materialists are? He has given up his
solitary place and has come here because his heart bleeds upon
seeing the suffering of the fivas. He has come to give you the
opportunity to do hari-bhajana, service to Krsna. He has come
to teach you that and to give you that opportunity. You have
forgotten Krsna, so he has come here just to revive your memory.
He has opened a factory so that you can become an employee
in it; you can enter into Krsna’s samsdra. Some people may say,
“I am doing hdrpndma. 1 am chanting hare krsna hare krsna krsna
krsna hare hare, hare rdma hare rdma rdma rdma hare hare.” You may
be chanting, you may be doing han-bhajana, but unless you enter
into Krsna’s samsdra, what value is there? No value. So, in order
to enter into Krsna’s samsdra you have to approach Sri Guru, a
bona fide guru, That Gurudeva is calling, “Come! Come’ Enter
into the samsdra of Krsna that I have opened here.” Unless you
enter into krsna-samsdra, you cannot chant without offence. You
may be chanting Idkhas and Idkhas of names, but it is all offensive
chanting, so your anzxrthas cannot he destroyed. Even if you chant
Idkhas of offensive names, you cannot make any advancement at
all. Many are chanting, but what are they getting? By chanting
alone can one go to Vaikuntha? No. Gurudeva has come here to
teach you that you should enter into guru-samsdra, which means
Krsna’s samsdra. You are a servant, you should render service, and
enter into the guru'grha, and then you will achieve perfection.
Otherwise you cannot have perfection.

Join Krsna-seva-yajna

What do you expect to receive upon entering into the

samsdra of guru! Do you only want to take, and not give anything?
You have received so much from guru, haven’t you? You have
received a lot, but, unless you are a servant, unless you serve in the
house of the guru, what is the benefit? There will be no benefit.
Therefore, guru says, “Come and join. Enter into my samsdi'a, it is
Krsna’s samsdra; Join here! Join here! Then all your anart/ids will
be destroyed.” Dedicate your body, mind and speech, your soul,
everything to rhe service of Sri Guru.
You have come to the house of guru. He has opened a factory,
so you should be an employee in that factory. Who can give you
that kind of employment? Will the government give it to you?
No. Gurudeva will give you employment in the factory he has
opened. That employment is service to Krsna, knTin-sem-yujna.
To offer service to Krsna, is yajna, sacrifice, ievd-yajnn. Unless you
join in that seva-yajha, unless you render service in guru-gTha, you
cannot get the real benefit of this process at alb
Gaurasundara Mahaprabhu speaks and teaches through Sri
Guru. So, giving everything you have to serve Sri Guru, with
/cdya-mana-mkya — body, mind and speech — then perfection is
guaranteed, definitely, whatever your impediments or obstacles
are. There are so many impediments’ This material world means
that there is danger at every step. There are drawbacks and very
large stumbling blocks at every step, but if you completely surrender
through your body, mind and speech, then all impediments,
obstacles and stumbling blocks will be destroyed within a moment.
In this very life you will achieve perfection; there is no doubt
about it. Without the mercy of guru, without service to guru, no
one can understand Krsna, no one can approach Krsna, and no
one can get Krsna, the ultimate goal of human life. Therefore we
offer this prayer every day, and offer worship to Sri Guru,

sri giiru-carana-padma,
ke vala- bhakati'sadma,
mndo mui saiWhana mate

“The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by
which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus
feet with great awe and reverence.”
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the lotus grows in waterJ

similarly the lotus feet of
ri Guru are like a lotus
that grows in the ocean of bhakti-rasa.
These lotus feet are aprakrta, transcendental,
not material. They are the abode of transcenden­
tal bhakti-rasa, filled with mddhurl, all sweetness, and
beauty, and very relishable. Just as the lotus looks very
beautiful to the eye, nayana-abhirdma, and attractive to
the heart, citta-dkarsaka, because it is shining attractively,
similarly, in the eye of the disciple the lotus feet ofguru also
glisten with affection. w

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