In the Srimad Bhagvatam we read the story of Lord Shiva.Who is approached by the devatas when they were in utter desperation.The entire universe was been filled with deadly poison.It was on the verge of exterminating all life.Lord Vishnu directed the devattas to Lord Shiva.At once he took the entire practical ocean of poison concentrated it and drank it for the welfare of others.And in this particular pastime it is said in the Bhagvat purana that there is no service more pleasing to the supreme personality of Godhead then willing to accept hardships as an act of compassion for other living beings.Shyamsundar Prabhu has just narrated some drops from the oceanic examples of Srila Prabhupad compassion to other living beings.To show compassion to others in this material world is the greatest way of giving pleasure to the supreme Lord many examples .
Vasudev Dutt’s compassion towards all living entities
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he spoke about Vasudev Dutt he would praise him as if he had one thousand mouths.Once in Jagannath Puri the Lord was glorifying Vasudev Dutt in this spirit in the presence of all the devotees.Vasudev dutt was very embarrassed.Some how or other he spoke and he said my Lord I have one request for you for long time I have been waiting to ask you for this.You have descended to show your mercy to the most fallen.You have descended in to this world to eleviate the suffering of the condition souls.And you are the supreme Lord’s who is completely independent.Whatever you desire no one can stop you.You can do that please hear my one appeal.My heart breaks when I see the condition souls in this universe suffering due to forgetfulness of you.I beg you let all of the sins, all of the karma of every living being in this universe fall on my head ,allow me to suffer hellish conditions perpetually and give everyone else liberation.Now the supreme Lord doesn’t hear what you say from your mouth the Lord is Bhavagrahi.He is within your heart he knows your intentions.Whatever you speak Krishna is hearing the intentions of your words.Whatever actions you perform Krishna is reciprocating according to the intention of your actions.Not only did the Vasudev Dutt say this but from the very core of his heart he meant it.It affected Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu so deeply that Lord Caitanya’s body trembled and tears poured from his eyes, with choked up voice Lord Caitanya said this is not surprising that you have said this because you are Prahlad Maharaj.Because of your pure love for God and BhaktiVinod Thakur explains when there is love of God in ones heart it manifest in this world in the form of compassion to every living being.0:06:25.0 .Every living being is part of Krishna.To love Krishna is to love the essence of the soul in every heart unconditionally.This is Vaishnav.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared himself to be prisoner in the heart of Vasudev Dutt
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said whatever you wish Krishna must fulfill it but there is no need for you to suffer Krishna will leave right for everybody.Just on the basis of your desire.Vasudev Dutt was living in a place after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sanyas he moved from Mamgachi to Kumara Hatta and there Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Srivas Thakur’s home.Vasudev Dutt came and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed to the whole world for all time his feelings towards Vasudev Dutt.He said that I am the property of Vasudev Dutt.My body belongs to him.My heart belongs to him.Wherever he wants to sell me I am sold.Wherever he wants to give me a way in any place at any time I will be given away.I say it again and again I am the property of Vasudev Dutt.This is interesting if wherever he wants to sell me I am sold.That means he is taking the role of a slave for his devotee.In human society the only time you can sell somebody is if that person is your slave.And in most places in world today slavery is illegal because it is considered so abusive.yes.How many of you want to be a slave? Where your master can just sell you, beat you, anything? But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the supreme personality of Godhead he is longing to be the slave of his devotee.That is the nature of his love.And what are the qualities of Vrindavan Das Thakur.We have heard some of the qualities Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswmai have explained.Vrindavan Das Thakur tells that Vasudev Dutta he would never look for any faults in anyone.He was always looking for the good.Always looking for that potential to serve Krishna and love Krishna.And because he was in this spirit his love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on the highest level of their ecstasy.And therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared himself to be the prisoner in the heart of Vasudev Dutt.Conquered by the compassion of his devotee.
Story of Rantidev
Srila Prabhupad in Srimad Bhagvatam 9th canto compares another personality to Vasudev Dutt.Should I continue? Haribol. Thank you.A King named Ranti dev.Ranti dev for over 40 days he fasted with his family to purify his heart and for the welfare of all society.At the end of that fast he was brought because he was in the secluded place.He was brought food made with Yogurt and Ghee as well as some water.And he offered his prayers and was about to break the fast.He was on the verge of death.Just at that time a Brahman appeared and said O Ranti dev I am very hungry do you have any food? So Ranti dev gave a whole portion and fed him to his whole satisfaction.The Brahman left. Rantidev then was about to take Prasad. And a Shudra appeared and said O I am so hungry do you have anything to eat? Ranti dev fed that person to his satisfaction as well as to rest of his family.Whatever little was left he was about to eat.His hands were trembling and somebody came with a pack of dogs and said my dogs are hungry so am I.Do you have any food for us?Ranti dev distributed all the food left to these dogs. All of is left was one little cup of water.Just enough to keep him alive. As he was about to drink the water, a Chandala appeared.And in a piteous voice he said Oh I am so thirsty.Do you have any water? And then Ranti dev offered a prayer with folded palms to the supreme personality of Godhead.He said my dear lord I donot beg from you all the eight mystic siddhis ,I donot want from you liberation from all suffering ,liberation from the repetition of birth and death.I donot desire from you any heavenly pleasures, I only have one request.Let me remain here with the living entities of this material world and in every birth I take, give me the benediction that I could suffer on their behalf so that they could be liberated.And then Rantidev said by giving this Chandala my water which really means by giving him my life I will never again have to suffer from hunger,or thirst or moroseness or lamentation or bodlity trembling or any other type of misery.Then Ranti dev gave the water to the Chandala in ecstasy.Suddenly Brahma,shiva and other demigods appeared.They reveal to him that actually the Brahma and the dog everybody he just they were demigods wanted to test you.How you have passed this test? We want to offer you any benediction.Ranti dev didn’t even asked for water back.He didn’t asked for anything.What did he do? He offered his respectful obseisances to all the devattas and he simply fixed his mind on the supreme personality of Godhead.0:15:41.2 .He wanted nothing except to please the Lord.And therefore the Lord empowered him and blessed him in such a way that whoever came in contact with them would love Krishna and because he was king the whole world love Krishna because of this one man’s compassion.
Shivanada Sen’s compassionate nature toward the dog
Shivananda Sen we know the story of how he was so compassionate to that dog not a pedigree dog imported for Sweden or Afganistan or france.Just a Indian dog.One of the street dog who is homeless is wandering around.But Shivanand Sen some how the dog was following and he considered I am the 0:16:57.9 I am the servant of the servant of the servant.This dog is coming in to the party Shivanada Sen had to organize for two to three hundred devotees to travel by foot from Bengal all the way to Jagannath Puri every year.And in those days it was very dangerous there was so many kingdoms and rivals administration and so many dacoits they had to go through forest and jungles they had to sometime cross rivers and pay taxes and he arranged everything.And nobody had to pay any fees to go with him.Like in our yatra you have to pay fees Shivananda sen was free for everyone.And he paid for everything every year.So busy.But when the dog came he gave his much attention, affection and compassion to that dog anyway.Infact more.When there were prejudice against dog’s for that one boat man he negotiated and paid more for the dog than any of the other devotees.And even made special meals for the dog.Hare Krishna.Now this is completely on the spiritual platform.It’s not like Shyamsundar’s dog.Prabhupad gave them mercy those dog’s might be in the Goloka Vrindavan waiting for Shyamsundar Prabhu.Prabhupad gave him Prasad he bless them by tapping them with his cane.He rode in car with them one time Ralph right? And when Malati devi and Shyamsundar Prabhu gave the dog away Prabhupad asked where he was? He was thinking right for him.
sarvasva tomār, caraṇe saṁpiyā,
poḍechi tomāra ghare
tumi to’ ṭhākur, tomāra kukur,
boliyā jānaho more
Bhakti Vinod Thakur prays you are my master and I am your dog.So Shivananda Sen gave so much kindness and ultimately the dog disappeared because somebody didn’t serve him properly.
Lord gives all credit for his own love to his own devotees
And in puri when Shivananda Sen arrived went to Gambhira in Courtyard Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is all alone sitting with that dog.Mahaprabhu was eating green coconut taking a bite then throwing it to the dog.Now the amazing thing is we try this because we like to see what dog’s don’t like green coconut.Usually if you give dog green coconut they just kind of smell it and go away looking for something else.But Caitanya Mahaprabhu this is Mahaprasad he throw it and tell the dog chant Krishna and the dog would chant Krishna.And on that very day the dog went back to Godhead.What was his qualification? One qualification because he had received the love,the compassion of such a devotee of Shivananada Sen.That Sri Caitanaya Mahaprabhu who is conquered by the love of his devotee.Who agrees to be sub-ordinate to the love of his devotee the Lord found the greatest pleasure in promoting that dog to the spiritual world simply to please Shivananda Sen.The devotee is willing to do anything for the pleasure of the Lord and the Lord is willing to do anything for the pleasure of his devotee.And when Shivananda Sen would come actually there is a wonderful story that he came one year to puri and he told Lord Caitanya my wife is Pregnant.Now that’s usually is not in those days what you tell Sanyasis.But Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in ecstasy he said oh I will give the name for the child.He named Pramananda Puri Das.And the next when he went back home his wife gave birth.Lord Caiatanya would call him Puri.Shivanada Sen had three children and when he would come to puri with his wife and three children Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would personally take Prasad at their home and he would say that your family is my family.Shivananda sen I am your property I am your’s.Whoever you show your mercy upon that person must be delivered.Krishna has to deliver them.How the Lord gives all credit for his own love to his own devotees.
Mahaprabhu’s influence on millions and millions of people
Kolavecha Sridhar was a very simple man he had no wealth he had no followers there is no record that he was well educated.He was just a simple banana leaf seller. And here is Lord Caitanya at the peak of his carrier as preacher.Today in the morning Radha Gopinath Prabhu was explaining what was his influence nobody has this type of influence.One day in the afternoon he was told about how the Chand Khazi was harassing and presecuting the devotees the towns people.Previously he told everyone just chant the holy names of Krishna with your families, in your shops, in your homes as you are walking just chant don’t worry about anything else and they would follow in his instructions and following his instructions brought about a tremendous amount of resistance from the government.They were beating the devotees,they were threatening to imprison them to plunder all of their property.Broke Mrdanga this information came to Lord Caitanya and he proclaimed today in the evening everyone come with a torch.One statement by evening millions of people gathered not just with one torch some of them had dozens of torch’s.Lord Caitanya wasn’t paying them.There is another story just Mahaprabhu’s influence when he came to Ramakeli on his way to Vrindavan to millions of people doing Nam Sankirtan.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is dancing and millions of people with their full voices has their arms raised loudly chanting the holy names.Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Chand Khazi surrendering his life to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
The Nawab Hussain shah who hated hundu’s the Nawab Hussain shah who made a law of the Kingdom no public demonstration of any hindu ritual.He heard this massive chanting and he asked somebody who is that what’s that he said I saw this person he has a beautiful golden form he is dancing in ecstasy his arms they are elongated beneath his legs when he raises them high up he is so beautiful his complexion is like molten gold his eyes are so lotus enlarge they seem to be strectching almost to his ears his nose is like a sesame flower,his lips are like rubi’s,his teeth are like pearls ,his neck is like a lion he has broad shoulders and thin waist and as he is chanting he leaps in the air he falls on the ground there is torrents and torrents of tears like rivers flowing from his eyes.I have never seen anything like this.I have seen many sadhus and many swami’s but this person the ecstatic nature of his love of God is so deep like and ocean and there are millions of people following him all loudly chanting God’s names in ecstasy.The Nawab Hussain Shah called for one keshava khan who is a devotee he said tell me about this sanyasi that’s come and Keshava Khan was worried if I tell him actually about how influential he might kill Lord Caitanya or try to presecute him so better I just make it sound very very irrelevant.He said oh so much propaganda you are hearing he’s just the common Swami with few followers like so many others.Then Nawab Hussain Shah why are you blasfaming him like that.Just by the description I can understand he is the supreme Lord.Otherwise how could he have so much influence.He is a sanyasi with no possession’s with no home but yet he has millions and millions and millions of people willing to risk their lives giving up their homes doing everything for him.I am the king living in the big palace’s and if I don’t pay people to do my work they will never do it.He doesn’t pay anyone anything and they will give their surrendering their lives to him.This is Mahaprabhu’s influence.So on that day in Sri Navadvip Dham when he called for millions of people they all came and they had a procession of Nam Sankirtan through all the streets to all the bathing ghat’s throughout Navadvip and ultimately came to Chand Khazi’s home.And Chand Khazi came down and surrendered to the Lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.What kind of powerful victory was that?
Kolavecha Sridhar’s highest level of devotion
Lord Caitanya taking Sanyas giving up such a wife,giving up such a mother,giving up such followers,such influence,going to another place the ultimate expression of compassion after this victorious Hari Nam Sankirtan procession Lord Caitanya and his most intimate devotees he led them to Kolavecha Sirdhar’ little hut.This little fetched hut.He had no possessions.And outside of his hut was this very old dented iron pot.It was so old,it was so scraped up with so many dent’s in it.Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur enligtens us with the fact that even the most desperate thief would not even place his glance upon it.What to speak of take it.That’s how worth it was.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here he was with all of his devotees with Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhar Prabhu, Haridas Thakur, Nityananda Prabhu and he just happens to see that old pot filled with water and he knew this is the water that Sridhar drinks with his own mouth. Not only that he uses it for every purpose as it was the only pot in his house. He would use it for cleaning he would use it for washing himself he would drink it. Lord Caitanya picked up that old dented iron pot and drank the water.When Sridhar saw that he came running to the scene was crying he said my Lord no no he would drunk the water I drank from, I was washing myself with now I am dead I am finished.And Lord Caitanya he wanted to show the whole world he said today my entire life has become purified. Today for the first time I am testing this sweetness of pure devotion to Krishna.Because I have drunk the water from Sridhar’s pot.And as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was saying these words tears were pouring from his eyes. And the devotees who heard this they started falling to the ground and rolling to see the good fortune of Kolavecha Sridhar and the nature of the love of the Lord for his devotee.The Lord will not accept either nectar from a solid Gold bejeweled cup if it is not offered with devotion. Not water.The Lord he understand our purpose for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that water was the energy of Sridhar’s devotion.He was tasting Kolavecha Sridhar’s ecstatic love.He was overwhelmed ,he was conquered and purchased.
The Lord is purchased by his devotees
Bhakti is the highest path.Srila Prabhupad would say some people want to be God but when you love God,God becomes sub-ordiante to that love.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he was a little boy Nimai the girls the neighbouring ladies the friends of Saci devi they would tell him dance and he would dance Hare Krishna. Nice sound effects actually personality to dance to.Then he would go out and go out in to the streets and beg for Sandesh he would beg for banana’s, he would beg for coconut’s and bring it back and distribute it to all the ladies.Just like the order supplier.The Lord is purchased by the love of his devotees and in this world the highest expression of love we can offer to Krishna by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s own words is to show compassion to other living beings.0:35:09.2 .The Lord said to the people of India it is your duty, responsibility to perform the greatest welfare work for others.Which is to liberate the soul. The Purushartha shiromani the crest jewel of all treasures Prem nidhi is devotion to Krishna.0:35:45.3 to be the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of one who is giving his or her heart in compassion for all others on behalf of Krishna that is the greatest blessing that we can ever achieve to be the servant of compassionate Vaishnav.The only thing superior to that is to be the servant of the servant of a compassionate vaishnava.Why should we pray for anything else. Lord Caitanya , Lord Krishna gives his heart to anyone who follows his path sincerely.
Lord is in the core of the heart of the devotee and devotee is in core of the heart of the Lord
Srila Prabhupad writes that pure devotional service is very rare but if one is serious,sincere and without alterior motives Krishna easily gives it.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu he prayed 0:37:10.0. To be the servant of the servant of the servant of those persons who we know are living in the heart of the Lord by acting on behalf of the Lord.In the 9th canto of Srimad Bhagvatam Vishnu tells Durvasa Muni that I am in the core of the heart of my devotees.Those devotees who are willing to give up anything and everything to please me.I am in the core of their hearts and they are in the core of my hearts.If you offend a devotee Krishna is in their heart.You are causing pain to Krishna directly.If you please a devotee you are directly giving the greatest pleasure to Krishna. Krishna’s ultimate mercy is manifesting himself through the Vaishnavas within this world.And through the Vaishnavas he spreads the path of pure love through the congregational chanting of the Holy name Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Welcoming of H.G Ram Dass Prabhu
Today I am very happy to welcome our very dear and old friend of mine H.G Ram Dass Prabhu Haribol.Ram Dass Prabhu is been serving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, his great love for Srila Prabhupad is as always very much moved my own heart.He is one of the dear most favrouite disciples of one of Srila Prabhupad’s very beloved Godbrothers an ocean of compassion Divine Grace Bhakti Pramod Puri Maharaj. And he has done so much to please his Gurudev to spread the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.He is CEO or I don’t know exactly what he is.That’s very high position.Bhakti Vinod Thakur prays for that.He is something like the owner and the Co-ordinator of Mandala Publications and many different subsidery’s and infact this book that I wrote the journey home was published by Ram Dass Prabhu.Haribol.Whatever good is in it is by his blessing and whatever mistakes fall on my head.But I am just so happy that I have been inviting him to come here for many years and today he is finally fulfilled my prayer with a heart overwhelming with gratitude I welcome you Ram Dass Prabhu and let us very enthusiastically in a way that he will never forget for the rest of eternity.Let us welcome him to Radha Gopinath.Haribol Haribol.Haribol.Much louder please Haribol.Haribol.Haribol.Like to speak some words.Now we will perform Nam Sankirtan.
