Sharanagati

“The worship of Shri Guru also includes absolute and relative aspects. The most important is not to lose the spirit, because if we lose the essence, then we shall become worshipers of the form. In order to achieve the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu we have to study the character of Gouranga Mahaprabhu, we have to study about Him and His dhama, and also the devotees.”[1] I think this is why the devotees are so happy inSofia – because everybody is serving Gouranga Mahaprabhu so nicely.

But presently we are occupied with so many difficulties. We are occupied with all the different stupidities of life: I am too young to become a devotee, I am too old to be a devotee, I am a man, I am a woman, I am rich, I am poor, I cannot practice bhakti because I am this and that. But these are occupations given by Maya Devi. Yet we should never forget about the ultimate goal we started for – and this is divine love.

“The supreme goal of our life is given by Ragunath das Goswami in a following manner: “My most secret and cherished dream is that once I will reach to the place where Radhika and Madhava enjoy each other’s company in the greatest glory.” And he is praying to His master. This prayer says: “I am eternally indebted to Shri Gurudev, because I have to say thanks so many times to him. From him I have obtained the most precious gift – this is the holy name of Krishna, the mahamantra. The unlimitedly auspicious holy name includes the most complete thought, endeavor and ideal. He taught me how to serve the son of Mother Shachi, our benevolent savior. By the blessings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the path, leading to Krishna-lila, is shining in a golden hue. Gurudev has taken me to the most intimate servant of Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara, who is not different from Lalita Devi, the most intimate girlfriend of Radhika. Through him (her) I came in contact with Shri Rupa, who was distributing the sweetest rasa, the ecstatic love of Godhead, due to the desire of Mahaprabhu.”

Therefore we are very grateful to our masters, because they teach us how to worship the Divine Couple in a dedicated mood. Always stick to the essence! The final principle is: respect the master and worship God. Respect and worship are two different things. If your master sees that you worship the Lord, he will be very satisfied. And if God sees that you respect your master, He will be also very satisfied.

We should stick to the essence and in this way we also become essential. And not simply essential but quintessential, which is the fifth element of divine alchemy. Shrila Bhakti Promod Puri Goswami Maharaj studied chemistry at the university. I was wandering: chemistry in devotional service, what is that? But then I understood, this is not simple chemistry, this is alchemy – how to change iron into gold, how to convert materialist into a faithful person. And what is more: how to create from a faithful person, I mean a follower of faith, an ecstatic devotee – this is the divine alchemy. Therefore we are attracted to our masters – because they are doing the miracle for us.