Srila Gour Govinda Swami said a really remarkable thing one day. As a human being cum devotee of the Lord, we often see so many really beautiful vistas in places we visit (or if you live in Murwillumbah, right at home). We see the most amazing flowers and sunsets, and arab stallions and rock faces, lakes, ponds, birds, icebergs, so many eyecatching events.

             Yet Gurudeva knows that this is just a platform of anxiety, suffering and death.

             He said, "If you see something beautiful in this material world, BAH, SPIT AT IT!"

             Srila Gour Govinda Swami told us that we should tolerate and cooperate. This makes sense as it's in line with the essence of vaisnava behaivior.

             Of course, if we see something is wrong then we are right to speak out about it. This, in no way, means that we get on our brothers' and sisters' case for every little human foible or idiosyncrisy. And, of course, there are times when our own fault of intolerance, overcomes us and we launch into a tirade about annoying habits of other devotees. After billions of years of obeying every urge, one could easily be forgiven for succumbing to such habits. Just as easily, we can forgive our brothers. (Annoying as the blighters may be at times)

             Examples of errant but not so evil behavior might be if a brother likes fizzy drinks in excess, chews gum to relax, or perhaps a brother likes to listen to rap, funk, be-bop, hip-hop, or other childrens' music. We don't get on his case about it but neither do we encourage him to do more of it. Just tolerate his little foibles. It's really his problem and I'm sure he already knows that it's less than perfect behavior. If he's a close friend we may be able to sensitively encourage him to give it up, but why disturb him any more than he already is? He's more likely to grow nicely if he is impressed by your tolerance and understanding than by any amount of admonishment.

             If, however, he / she is engaged in a more nefarious activity, buying and selling drugs or stealing from Srila Gurudeva, to build his "empire" or even just his imagined ego, to placate some phobia or fixation remaining from childhood or whatever. This is NOT such a "harmless" activity and the devotee needs to be reminded of just how dangerous is his present course. If we know he won't listen to us, then there's no point in explaining to him that we disagree with his decisions. We may refer the matter to an higher authority, or, if even that is ignored, we don't criticise as we know that it CAN happen to us also, dependant upon mercy as we are. All we can do is tolerate, but I would not recommend cooperation in this case.

             Still, it's not in our best interest to associate with devotees (or anybody) that engages in such low behavior, so it's best if we simply try to avoid their association. When we see them, we offer them respect and kindness, even affection, and encourage them to do more of the things they do that are of value to the mission of Sri Caitanya. Tolerance and cooperation are not dogmatic values. We tolerate but we may not be willing to engage in cooperative ventures with them. Ask yourself these questions. "Should I cooperate with persons who are not willing to coperate with me?" "Should I cooperate with persons who are simply engaging me in their own service?" I would answer in the negative to both questions, but we must still be as tolerant as a tree ourselves.

             If some person's behavior fits into a rather grey area, then we are forced to evaluate for ourselves, just how we should behave towards another devotee. Let's hope that we are softhearted and intelligent enough to choose wisely.

             How long will we continue to twist Srila Gurudeva's orders to suit our own tastes?

             Fortunately vaisnavas are always merciful and thus some mercy comes even to us who cheat our Gurudeva. He knows that we are hopelessly fallen and helps us in any way that he can. He gives us our orders again and again and yet we still twist them so that we get things our way. Eventually he gives us orders that we can follow, but he still wants us to fulfill his wishes as previously indicated. This is for our benefit, not for his.

             So how much more would we gain so very quickly if we were able to follow his order "as it is"? Death will come at any moment. Will mere following of the rules for their own sake be of real benefit to us? We need to out grow this "Transenmental Dedication". It's really the heart that must grow. When we follow our guru's order because it is so very overwhelmingly attractive to our heart we will certainly please our Srila Gurudeva. We may ask ourselves how much our heart has grown.

             Prayers to his holy lotus feet may well be our only answer in the short run. The long run of course entails Sadhu Sangha. It's not as easy as sitting at his lotus feet and enjoying Srila Gurudeva's company ... sadhu sangha, our next topic, entails much more than that.

             So often we hear statements beginning with "Prapard said, ..." or "GooDave says, ...", but in reality, we really need to understand how the vaisnavas feel about what they say, and how they feel in their heart towards all living beings (krsna included), for when Srila Gour Govinda Swami pointed out that "Taking sadhu sangha means to imbibe the mood of the sadhu", it seemed to be an axiomatic statement that formed a spiritual umbrella over all the other shastric knowledge. Tell us what what you think about this
             My own understanding on this topic I am ready to state here, despite my neophyte status, because it came from the lotus lips of my beloved siksa guru, Srila Gour Govinda Swami, who took a lot of time to ensure that I understood what he was telling me (and others). He pointed out that it is pointless trying to see Krsna, he said, "Don't try to see Krsna, make yourself so loving and so wonderful that Krsna will want to come to see you." It makes sense to us here that he knows this advice from personal experience, since Krsna, obviously, has come to stay with Srila Gour Govinda Swami, himself.

             Krsna is addicted to overwhelmingly beautiful personalities. He cannot stay away. He must come. If we give up all inclination to harm or to control other living beings by thought, by word, or by deed, if we give up all cheating propensity and serve our beloved Gurudeva and Sri Gauranga without trace of duplicity, thus making ourselves into the loving servant of all living entities (all of Krsna's energies) then Krsna will come to see us too.

             Here we have a sadhu explaining to us the loving mood of sadhu vaisnavas so that we can adopt the same mood in our own hearts. Srila Gurudeva will give us the necessary understanding if we follow according to Bhagavad Gita 4.34
             Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realised souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

If we look closely at our Srila Gurudeva we will see this mood overflowing from his heart of hearts; it is essential for spiritual growth. Those who have this mood will not purposely cause distress to others, nor will they exploit others to achieve their own selfish ends, and their love will make them easy to be with, so surely krsna will feel comfortable in their company.

             Devotees who know Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, or any elevated vaisnava will know that this loving mood is part and parcel of spiritual development. One who wishes to remain hard hearted will have his (righteous) pride smashed by the plough of Sri Balarama, and in the subsequent humility, love can take root and flourish.

             This loving mood is attractive to all but the envious.

             These are words that I have only ever actually heard from Srila Gour Govinda Swami. However, they are logically echoed in the statement of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, wherein he defined his personal logo as "Your ever well wisher."

             If we search our hearts, we are bound to find ample evidence that we are not in this unconditionally loving mood ourselves, and thus we must become humble. Humility will do us no harm whatsoever in our quest for transformation from the demoniac to the saintly. When we become completely surrendered to this mood, then we are ready for Krsna to seek residence in the heart that He finds so attractive.

              If we keep on chanting and doing our level best to follow this path, this bhakti-marga, then eventually, as water can wear away the toughest stone, the water of love, prema-jala, that flows from our beautiful Srila Gurudeva, will wear away the hardest of hard coverings that covers our heart, and surely the soul (atma) can be freed from his imprisonment in the stone-hard prison house of maya, durga-devi ... the stone heart of envy.

             Srila Gour Govinda Swami told us that when we are travelling in a railway carriage (ac compartment maybe) we may notice something that is not right. The seat may be damaged or the window sticks a bit. We don't worry about fixing it as it is not our concern. Besides, we will only be on this train for a short while and then change trains to get another carriage.

             Our life is like this. We needn't concern ourselves too much about what goes on in this world as we are merely travellers travelling to a distant destination, and this world has little to do with us. Nothing in fact, although we still need to keep body and soul together (simply, or however krsna provides), but while we are here, there is no need to get involved in worldly affairs for, as Srila Gour Govinda Swami has pointed out, it is our destination that is important, not this world.

             Soon we will change trains. At death we will change to another train. No need to be overly attached to this train carriage. When death comes ... change trains and move on.

             hari hari, kabe mora ha'be hena dina
            vimala vaisnava, rati upajibe, vasana haibe ksina

             Oh Hari! Oh Mahaprabhu! When will the fortunate day come when rati, deep love and attachment, will come in my heart for the lotus feet of the pure-hearted Vaisnavas? (At that time I will honour and serve them, and thus all my material desires and anarthas especially lust and anger, will go.)

             antara-bahire, sama vyavahara, amani manada ha'ba
            krsna-sankirtane, sri-krsna-smarane, satata majiya ra'ha

             (With a heart free from duplicity) my outer behavior will correspond to my inner feelings and thoughts. (Seeing myself as completely insignificant) I will give all respect to others, seeking no honour in return. Always dancing and singing the holy names, I will remain constantly absorbed in remembering Sri Krsna's beautiful pastimes.

                                             from Hari Hari, Kabe Mora Ha'be Hena Dina.
                                                                       by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

             We have three archived newsletters. Two were sent out but were merely prototypes linked to an online webpage, the third being the first actual bonafide newsletter. Prototype one
Prototype two
Newsletter one 5Jan06
Newsletter two `6July06