Quotes by Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Speech in the form of blaspheming sādhus is the source of great inauspiciousness. If one wants to attain devotion to Lord Hari, then he should make a vow like this: “In this life I will never blaspheme sādhus.” Devotees are sādhus. By blaspheming them, all one’s virtues are destroyed. By blaspheming the supremely pure Lord Mahādeva, Prajāpati Dakṣa, the best of ascetics, met with severe inauspiciousness. Read More…

Sometimes the soul is born as a man and marries a woman, and sometimes he is born as a woman and marries a man and establishes for himself a large cycle of worldly concerns. When he enters that cycle he honours his superiors and takes care of his dependents. He fears the ruler, and he hates his enemies. He fears disgrace and criticism when he is born as a woman in a respectable family. He remains far from his true identity when he establishes these false relationships in this world. What a horrible condition the soul endures in such a self-imposed life! Considering the various established rules of this world as his master, he has completely forgotten his eternal master, Kṛṣṇa. Read More…

While meeting a materialistic friend, one should speak only what is extremely necessary. At that time, it is better not to exhibit heartfelt love. But if that friend is a proper Vaiṣṇava, then one should accept his association by speaking to him with love. Read More…

Jīvera dayā (mercy to living entities) is one of the main constituents of Vaiṣṇava dharma. It is the inherent nature of a Vaiṣṇava to be kind to the jīvas. When this nature is not detected, one cannot become a Vaiṣṇava even if one has thousands upon thousands of other external symptoms. Read More…

In newspapers there is so much useless talk. For the practicing devotee to read newspapers is a great loss. But if there are topics about pure devotees described in the newspaper, then that can be read. Read More…

Whoever feels pleasure at the distress of others can never display mercy to the jīvas. The sweet mood of love for the Lord cannot arise within him. He has innate hatred or enmity towards the Vaiṣṇava. Only those who are without envy can fully accept the purport of the tṛṇād api verse. Read More…

If someone speaks in a strong way to you, tolerate it. Do not insult anybody. Do not identify with this body, and do not cultivate enmity towards anybody. Read More…

The urge of the belly is a disturbance. The requirement of the stomach is to eat for the maintenance of the life and mitigation of hunger. Those who are thirsty for devotional service should maintain their life by moderate eating. Those who endeavour to overeat are called gluttons. One of the qualities of devotees is mita-bhuk, eating what is necessary. By eating less, the body remains healthy and does not disturb one’s devotional service. Those who have no strength to tolerate the urge of the stomach are always greedy to eat. Read More…

You have affection for this body which has forced you to wander through so many lands, but it will eventually be eaten by dogs and jackals. No matter how much you may take care of it, the terrible claws of time will never let go of this body. Alas! Read More…

All your former lovers will hate you. Alcohol will no longer give you any happiness. The bones you chew on and enjoy will now cause you untold misery, as you will become toothless. Wearing ornaments will not make you look more attractive, and your body will look like a monkey’s. Where have your grand mirror and decorations gone? Think about this and become detached. Read More…

Those who have written about psychology and the intricacies of love without knowing love’s true nature have simply wasted their time, despite all their reasoning, as if mixing ghee into ashes. Out of pride, such persons have simply endeavoured for fame. Rather than benefit the world, they have brought it great misfortune. Brothers! Stop listening to those people’s grandiloquent talk and develop pure attachment for the soul, thus making your soul’s nature shine by experiencing that love which is free from designations. Read More…

In connection with bhajana, useless rhetoric born from deceit and hypocrisy, fraudulent philosophical conclusions, and anarthas have all been compared to a donkey. Many bathe in the urine of this donkey believing it to be purifying. In reality however, it scorches the ātmā. Read More…

Pratiṣṭhā means respect for oneself, and the desire for that is called ‘āśā.’ All other anarthas may be driven far away, but the desire for pratiṣṭhā does not go away so easily. All kinds of hypocrisy are born out of that desire. Although pratiṣṭhāśā is at the root of all anarthas, it refuses to admit its own fault, thus it is shameless. It is referred to as śvapaca-ramaṇī (an outcaste woman who eats dogs) because such a desire is like devouring the dog-flesh of prestige. Read More…

Due to vanity, I also fell into this material world. Floundering in the ocean of mundane existence like a drowning man, I suffer the pangs of rising and sinking in that ocean. I take shelter at Your lotus feet, which deliver one from fear, and dedicate the whole of myself to You on this day. Read More…

There are many people nowadays who have no fear of committing offences. Upon seeing a devotee, tears come to their eyes and their hairs stand on end, and while discussing ‘kathā’ (talks about the Lord), they suddenly go into a particular state of ecstasy. They may even agree to spiritual beliefs while attending spiritual meetings. However, once again, they become overwhelmed with mundane sense-objects and exhibit insane behaviour in trying to attain those things. O readers! What is the determination of all these types of people? Our opinion is this – simply for the sake of gaining some pratiṣṭhā (recognition and fame), they display symptoms of devotional bhāva in front of the devotees. Read More…

The practitioners of devotional service should not speak unnecessarily. If you do have to speak unnecessarily, better to keep quiet. Besides topics regarding Kṛṣṇa, all other topics are unnecessary. Read More…

What are we proud of? We are repeatedly being trapped in great illusions. At every moment we are degrading; at every step there is a dreadful calamity. Still, we remain proud. That personality who came to this world to preach nāma, and who could not satisfy Himself even by chanting hari-nāma constantly, declared: “My misfortune is such that I do not have any attachment for nāma.” We, by contrast, think that simply by chanting one nāma once, we have developed extreme attachment for it. This is reason for great repentance, so why is it that we still maintain such evil-mindedness? Read More…

Do not think that by considering oneself to be a sādhu, one can serve those that are ‘asādhu’ and receive the same result as serving a genuine sādhu. As mentioned previously, it is essential for a madhyama-adhikārī to serve a sādhu, because the kaniṣṭḥa does not serve sādhus and the uttama-adhikārī is not able to distinguish the difference between a sādhu and a non-sādhu. Read More…

Those whose hearts are hardened by the friction of arguments, who abandon kindness to the jīvas for the sake of selfishness, who are not able to realise the essence of transcendental prema, and who refrain from consuming the divine wine of bhakti, but disturb their minds with useless intoxicants – Oh! Such unfortunate persons will simply be deprived of pure, sweet prema. Read More…

Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Every Ekādaśī, we should consider how much advancement in our bhajana we have made since the last Ekādaśī. If it is seen that we have made no advancement, or there has been some deterioration, we should understand that bad association is the cause and we should endeavour to give that up. Read More…

Without the association of śuddha-bhaktas, or pure devotees, there is no question of holding an iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. The word iṣṭa means ‘desired subject,’ and goṣṭhī means ‘assembly.’ These two words combine to form the term iṣṭa-goṣṭhī, which refers to an assembly of sādhus who are devoted to śuddha-bhakti, or the practice of pure devotion. Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. Read More…

If you gain this knowledge simply by listening to what people say, and looking through books, you cannot wage war with the enemy. When one listens in terror to the deep roar of the invading enemy, one cannot find this hidden knowledge. The senses etc. will be aroused. Therefore, going to war with knowledge is simply self-deception. Read More…

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

If one is indifferent while the mouth chants the Name, and one is thinking of various things and forms – that is indifference. If one has no taste while chanting, wondering how long it will take to finish chanting a round, and one keeps looking at the sumeru bead – that is a sign of lethargy. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiṣṇava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)

Simply accepting initiation and engaging in the limbs of bhakti does not give satisfaction to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can only attain satisfaction with ananya-śraddhā (faith without deviation) in ananya-bhakti (bhakti without deviation). Anyone whose heart this type of śraddhā appears in has a firm disposition towards śuddha-bhakti. He does not go or reside at a place where there are no discussions on śuddha-bhakti. Read More…

Even after obtaining dīkṣā in a sampradāya, and after entering the path of arcana (Deity worship), we do not attain prema. Even after studying and teaching different śāstras, pure dedication to Kṛṣṇa does not appear in us. Even after following many vratas we do not get pure bhakti. Even after taking birth in a gosvāmī family, we fail to obtain simple bhakti to Gaura. Even after accepting bhek (the dress of a renunciant) from renounced Vaiṣṇavas, we simply continue to worship our material family. Kali is the only reason for all of our disturbances, and in this way he deceives us. Read More…

The practice of singing songs on rasa here and there by those who are greedy for money and wish to enjoy their senses, gives Kali an occupation. Read More…

“Brothers! Forsake all disputes. There is no happiness in disharmony. If you give up conflict, then Śānti Devī will bestow happiness upon you. Happiness is undeniable to all. Find happiness under the shelter of Śānti Devī. Primarily all human beings are brothers. God the Supreme Father is not pleased with your conflict. All of you have a physical body. We are constantly tormented by various deficiencies, ailments and accidents related to the body. If we maintain a mood of brotherhood with each other, grief can be eradicated. With each others help, alleviation of scarcity and joint work will provide for many. In such a situation, if there are disputes with each other, there is no hope of ending this suffering. Happiness will totally abandon this mortal world. Therefore, O brothers! Give up violence, envy, lies and false ego and show love for each other. Read More…

Those who will be born as devotees amongst all the nations of the world, will one day hope to see the birth-place of Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu from many, many distant lands. Those who endeavour to keep the flow of services in Māyāpura strong, will be counted amongst the main benefactors of the world of Vaiṣṇavas that will appear in the future. There is no doubt that by all these activities, the dharma of Śrī Mahāprabhu will be especially propagated throughout the world. Read More…

Mundane critics claim that without material rasa, you cannot experience śṛṅgara-rasa, so their critique of Śrī Gīta Govinda is never appealing in any sense. The poet Jayadeva did not give his book to such critics to review, rather he forbade them to read it. For those that lack any experience of transcendental vraja-rasa, speaking anything in relation to Jayadeva is simply shamelessness. Read More…

it is very unjust and opposed to bhakti to collect money by selling hari-nāma, considering it to be a livelihood. By doing this, both the giver of the Name and the listener will never have the possibility of obtaining the result of prema, and only pāpa will be accumulated. Read More…

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma. Read More…

The enemy within the heart of the bound jīva has so much power, so much courage, that if the he so desires, he can drag the jīva away from the feet of Bhagavān and make him do whatever he wants. Read More…

Mahāprabhu was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in His principles. He declared that party spirit and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress. (Śrī Caitanya, His Life and Precepts)  Read More…

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new, puffed-up devotees. Read More...

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10) Read More…

This human life is rare, and we should not waste it even for a single day. Read More…

Sādhus award divine eyes to our heart. (Bhāgavatārka-maricī-mālā 15.17)

Due to attachment to worldly pleasures in childhood and youth, I have developed many bad habits. Due to the reaction of these sinful acts my body itself has become an impediment to the service of the Supreme Lord. (Śaranāgati)

The Bhāgavata does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love for Him. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books, the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here.” (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Mind, you repeatedly behold the lovely handsomeness of this face, which is your favourite object of constant vanity. It will simply become delicious food for dogs and jackals. At that time, where will you keep all the decorative ornaments and valuable clothes which you hold in such high esteem? (Kalyāna Kalpataru 1.11.2)

To feel the happiness from the poems or compositions of modern poets is like believing that one is tasting milk by drinking buttermilk, only because there is an absence of milk. Read More…

If out of good fortune the living entities remember that, ‘I am an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa’ then their dormant propensity will be revived and they will certainly regain their spiritual health. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 9.12)

O my mind! Your definition of a saintly person is he who is expert in juggling words, and you become fully influenced by his association. If you see a cruel person, you show respect to him and fall down at his feet with devotion. (Kalyāṇa-kalpataru song 16)

Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiñëava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-näma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you. Read More…

Śuddha-bhaktas are rare in this world, and therefore only a few śuddha-bhaktas can be found in any single iṣṭa-goṣṭhī. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

What to speak of awarding happiness, ordinary talk causes extreme unhappiness; however, in iṣṭa-goṣṭhī such a thing never takes place. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 10.11)

O mind, please heed this confidential topic! It is amazing that you bathe in deceit, forgetting that it is donkey urine, believing that it is actually purifying you. Whether you reside in the forest or the house, keep this ass far away, whose urine burns both you and me. (Manaḥ Śikṣā-bhāṣā 6)

Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28)

The burden of family life increased day by day, and under its weight I felt my personal progress in life forcibly come to a halt. Old age came and beleaguered me on all sides, making my mind incessantly disturbed… Now please hear me, O Lord! I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet. (Śaraṇāgati)

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away. (Jaiva Dharma)

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever. (Kalyāṇa kalpataru 2.4.3)

One who gives hari-nāma to a faithless person with a desire to receive some dakṣiṇā is a seller or trader of hari-nāma. By exchanging an invaluable jewel for an insignificant object, a person falls down from the spiritual life of worshiping Hari. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 6)

Within a short time, there will be only one sampradāya left and that is the Śrī Brahma-sampradāya. All other sampradāyas will be merged into it. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā Chapter 2)

The qualification of a bona fide spiritual master is that he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and lives outside the consideration of varṇāśrama. (Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 20)

Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, the devotees do not accept as religion. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

The souls of great thinkers of bygone ages, who now live spiritually, often approach an inquiring spirit and assist him in his development. (The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics & Its Theology) Read More…

By accepting foodstuffs that have been offered to the Lord, all one’s material desires are conquered. (Śaraṇāgati)

One should not discuss topics of rasa with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

Those who do not accept this line of disciplic succession are the main enemies of the servants of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. (Śrī Manaḥ-śikṣā)

The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sādhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sādhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool. (Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta)

There are two types of gurus: antaraṅgā or internal, and bahiraṅgā or external. The living entity who is situated in samādhi is his own internal spiritual master. One who accepts argument as his spiritual master and who learns the process of worship from such a spiritual master is said to have accepted the shelter of a bogus spiritual master. (Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā)

If evil philosophies exist in your country then you should try to correct them. If even this causes a confrontation with cheaters and cunning people, still you should fight them for the sake of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.6)

One should try hard to constantly chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa clearly and lovingly rather than trying to increase the number of rounds. (Harināma Cintāmaṇi)

Everyday a person should give up the disturbance caused by material enjoyment, and chant with love for a while in a solitary place. Gradually he should try to increase the duration of this process. Finally a wonderful mood will be awakened in him and will remain all the time.

(Jaiva Dharma)

To possess the mentality that I do not belong to myself but to Kṛṣṇa is the symptom of fully surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. (Sajjana Toṣaṇī 4.9)