Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga Jayatah
Vol: E-15 2/28/05
"On hearing of the passing away of Sripad Bhakti Sampat Madhusudan Maharaj, Srila Govinda Maharaj commented, "Our Mission has lost one of its very faithful servitors and I have lost a very dear friend"

krishna-bhakta–nishkam,ataeba shanta
bhukti-mukti-sidhi-kami–sakali 'ashanta'

"The devotees of Sri Krishna have no mundane desires and are therefore completely peaceful, but those desiring material enjoyment, liberation or the pride of being a spiritualist, are always disturbed."

While observing the picture of Sripad Madhusudan Maharaj on our Math's website, these words came to the lips of Srila Gurudev.

My misfortune is I never got to see my dear friend in his beautiful sannyas-vesh, but his dedication, loyalty, generosity and kindness will remain an example for me for the duration of my life. In all circumstances, he had a smile and a few kind words for everyone, though he himself was in great physical pain. The loss is not his, for those with his qualities always go to wonderful place, but the loss is ours because we are left here wtihout him.
bhaktya mam abhijanati
yavan yas casmi tatvatah
tato mam tatvato jnanam
vishate tad anantaram

In the Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krishna concludes, "Through the power of pure devotion, one sees everything in relation to me and one can fully understand my divine majesty which culminates in Reality the Beautiful. Then one is admitted into the group of my most intimate servitors, who are non-different then my very self."
Sri Arun Banerjee PhD, one of the leading rocket scientists in the U.S., comes to inquire of the progress from knowledge to devotion. "I have some knowdedge and attraction for Bhagavad-gita, but no devotion. How can I develop devotion?" Mr. Banerjee humbly inquires in Benagli. Srila Gurudev takes him through the development of knowledge, from pratyaksa, our direct experience, paroksa, the experience of others, aparoksa, a hazy spiritual conception then adhoksaja entrance into the trancendental plane and ultimately aprakrta, the sweet play of the absolute, divine love. Naturally, he was very pleased with Srila Gurudev's wonderful explanation and in spite of his humble presentation, we must say that he has been a devoted supporter of our Bay Area Mission for the past 21 years. He is a dear friend and we are all uplifted by his gentle nature.

sri krishna-prema-nama parama-sukhamayah kopyacintyah padartho
yad gandhat sajjanaugha nigama-bahumatam moksham apyakshipanti
kaivalyaisvarya-seva-pradagana iti yasyangatah premadatuh
sri nityananda-candram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krishna-pradam tam

The divine name of  Sri Krishna, which is divine love itself and which is inconceivable to all, is the embodiment of supreme ecstasy. When the devotees of the Lord catch even the faintest wif of this love, they cast away the innumerable doctrines offered by the Vedas, including liberation. Sri Nityananda Prabhu openly bestows this love, of which the worship of the nondifferentiated transcendence and service offered in Vaikuntha, dominated by opulence and grandeur are but insignificant limbs. Let us eternally serve that great personality Sri Nityanandacandra, who freely grants the association of Sri Gaurangadeva, who is none other than Lord Krishna.
On the appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Srila Govinda Maharaj read this beautiful shloka composed by Param Guru Maharaj and commented on the "happy style" of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's compositions and how that was also noted by Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur.

madiya javani jodi nityananda dhore
tathapi brahmar bandya kahilo tomare
Even if Lord Brahma sees him holding a young woman and a bottle of wine, Nityananda Prabhu would be worhsiped by him.

preme matta nityananda kripa-avatar
uttama, adhama kichu na kore bichar
Always intoxicated with divine love, Sri Nityananda is the incarnation of kiindness. Thus, he never diiferentiates between the elevated and fallen souls but gives his mercy to everyone.
These beautiful expressions came from the lotus mouth of Srila Gurudev on the appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. He said that the Chaitanya Bhagavat could also be called the Nityananda Bhagavat because Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur has so elaborately described the qualities and pastimes of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
It Takes One to Know One

A few weeks ago we received the news of the hospitalization and subsequent passing away of Sri Hrishikesh Prabhu from Kolkata. Every morning he would come to the veranda of Srila Gurudev and offer flowers at his feet and a bag with a garland in it. He also gave to Srila Gurudev the rupees that before his initiation, he had spent on cigarettes and tea. He was a simple man and made a living selling potatoes on Bangur Avenue. You would not notice anything about him except the fact that his offering never disturbed Srila Gurudev and there aren't many who have entered the veranda who can make that claim. After hearing of his hospitalization and life threatening illness, Srila Gurudev commented on the power and depth of his devotion. "From one point we can see that Krishna wants to end his suffering and take him back home, but still we will feel the loss of this type of devotee. Physically, I cannot show so much, but mentally I worship him. The type of deep devotion possessed by him is so powerful that it frightens me!" For me, it is another lesson in spirituality. I could not see the depth of this man's devotion (or anyone elses for that matter) because I have so little of my own, but Srila Gurudev could easily recognize it and fortunately for us, we have him to guide us.

I would like to beg the forgiveness of all of the kind readers who may have visited this website the past seven weeks, never to find an update. It is, no doubt, caused by my laziness, lack of devotion and constant vaishnava-aparadha, but there was also an external cause. In the second week of January, Srila Gurudev suffered a severe health crisis and that could not be discussed or mentioned at that time. I lost my momentum and it was very difficult to get it back. Now, his health has been recuperating and he will return to India in a few weeks. I am sorry if this new page is a litte sloppy or haphazard, but I just wanted to get started again.