Category Archives: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

The Sannyasa Order

Posted on by under A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Sannyasa

(Muni Maharaja, Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami)

Today marks Srila Prabhupada’s acceptance of Sannyasa. Thanks to The late Padmapani Prabhu Prabhupada Connect for so nicely putting together this list list of quotes by Srila Prabhupada on Sannyasa, which we have re-posted here.

Srila Prabhupada’s Sannyasa Initiation

Srila Prabhupada accepted the order of sannyasa from Sri Srimad Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaja on September 17, 1959 at the Kesavaji Math in Mathura. Included below are some relevant quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and letters.

“The Krishna consciousness movement is not that we are asking everyone to become a sannyasi like me, and give up everything. No. That is not our program. You act as a brahmaṇa, as a ksatriya or a vaisya or a sudra. It doesn’t matter. But you try to satisfy Krishna. That is the program.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Bombay, December 30, 1972)

“So anyway, so I was officially initiated in 1933, just before three years of his passing away from this mortal world. So at the last moment also, just a fortnight before his passing away, he wrote me the same thing. I wrote him one letter and just he replied the same thing that ‘You should try to preach this gospel amongst the persons who are conversant in English language. That will be very nice for you.’ So I was dreaming sometimes that my Guru Maharaja is calling me and I am leaving my home and going behind him. I was dreaming like that, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, I have to give up my home? My Guru Maharaja wants me to give up my home life and take sannyasa?’ So I was thinking, ‘It is horrible. How can I leave my home?’ This is called maya. Of course, it’s a long story, but incidentally I am speaking to you because you are my dear children. So I was thinking that ‘How can I take sannyasa and leave my home, my children?’ So that was a horrible thought for me, I tell you. I was thinking seriously, ‘Oh, I will have to take this course. Guru Maharaja wants me.’ But actually I did not like to give up my home life. But Guru Maharaja made me obliged to give up my home life. So now, by his order, or by his plan, I gave up my home life, I gave up a few children, but Guru Maharaja is so kind that has given me so many nice children.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Montreal, July 26, 1968)

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Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur

Posted on by under A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Gargamuni das, Guru, Guru & Disciple, Spiritual Master

Today we celebrate the Appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and Spiritual Master of our Srila Prabhupada. We will honor it with a half day fast, rememberances and readings.

From the Library of Gargamuni das

”My Guru Maharaj” (Part-7)

Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: Whatever little success is in our movement, the cause is I have not tried to cheat. Honestly, what I knew, I heard it from Guru Maharaja and scripture, I took it. There was no cheating. (Room Conversation — April 16, 1977, Bombay)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja said that Instead of earning livelihood by showing the Deity in the temple, it is better to take the profession of a sweeper in the street and live honestly. He said like that. The sweeper, he is working hard, toiling, and getting some money and living. This is honest living. (Room Conversation — September 21, 1973, Bombay)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to use to place so many examples, [laughs] I do not know all of them. No, there is a book, Nyaya-sastra, logic. You’ll find all these things.(Morning Walk — July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to say,I think I have explained many times,that “Don’t try to see God. Do in such a way that God will see you.” Similarly, don’t try to advise God, but follow the advice of God. That is our way. (Morning Walk — January 22, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupda: That is the world. Therefore the whole world is the society of cheater and cheated. That is the version of my Guru Maharaja. The whole so-called human society means a bunch of cheaters and cheated. That’s all. So don’t be cheater; don’t be cheated. That is intelligence. ( Morning Walk — March 14, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada: That we have been taught by our Guru Maharaja, twenty-four hours engagement with Krsna. So maya has no scope to enter in our mind. She always remains aloof: “Oh, here is fire. I cannot touch.” (Room Conversation — May 13, 1969, Columbus OH)

Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur

Posted on by under A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

So today we celebrate the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the Spiritual Master of our Srila Prabhupada. We honor it today with a half day fast a Pushpanjali (offering of prayers and flowers) followed by a nice vegetarian feast.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared in Purusottam Ksetra, Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, on February 6, 1874. He was born in the family home next to the Narayan-chhata of Sri Jagannatha Temple, which always reverberated with the chanting of the Holy Name. Named Bimala Prasad, He was the fourth son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srimati Bhagavati Devi.

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Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Posted on by under A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

For some reason I love reading the Concluding Words of the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and find myself reading it again and again. The printing of this English translation is historically, a miraculous achievement, and yet reading Srila Prbhupada’s words and hearing the depth of his humility, is awe inspiring. He gives thanks to his American disciples, and to His Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura with the following words:

…I think that His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye. Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramātmā feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates. It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master because personally I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work. I do not think myself a very learned scholar, but I have full faith in the service of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura. If there is any credit to my activities of translating, it is all due to His Divine Grace. Certainly if His Divine Grace were personally present at this time, it would have been a great occasion for jubiliation, but even though he is not physically present, I am confident that he is very pleased by this work of translation. He was very fond of seeing many books published to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Therefore our society, the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, has formed to execute the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura.

Although Srila Prabhupada gives all credit to his spiritual master, we give all credit to him. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

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