Srila Gaurakisora, totally disgusted with the background character of one highly renounced and learned renunciate that lived in Kuliya, Navadvipa, cast aside his simple loincloth one day, and shaving his beard in a fashionable style, dressed himself in the most elegant dhoti and shawl money could buy. Wrapping the fine chaddar around his shoulders, he went to garden svananda-sukhada-kunja, the place where Bhaktivinoda Thakura resided. When he arrived before Srila Bhaktivinoda, he asked Srila Gaurakisora why he was wearing such opulent clothing. In answer, Srila Gaurakisora said, 'We have accepted the renounced dress as followers of Lord Caitanya so there is no restriction to secretly enjoying connection with others' wives. Therefore the renounced dress is actually in our favor for engaging in illicit sex. But if I accept the dress like that of sensuous women's husband, I can eventually become freed from the hands of insincerity." In this way Srila Gaurakisora cleverly took the role of a hypocrite, in order to criticize the disciplic successions of show bottle religionists who are devoid of all moral principles in their behavior.

Offenses Unto The Spiritual Master

There was once a devotee named Parvat who spent some time in Mayapura. He would often come from Sri Mayapura to visit Srila Gaurakisora in Kuliya. Once when collecting alone, he came to Srila Gaurakisora. Babaji Maharaja asked him about the news of Sri Mayapura Dhama. Parvat replied, "I will never return to Mayapura because Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and others like him, are all residents of Vaikuntha. Their prevailing attitude of worship is in opulence. We are strict worshipers of Lord Krsna in the mood of Vrndavana. We have no need to associate with them." Hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora became very much disturbed, and said, "If a parrot tries to cross over the expansive ocean, he becomes an object of laughter. If you actually want to live, then offenselessly with humility and tolerance at hand always chant the pure name of Krsna day and night. First of all give up all of your offenses to the devotees of the Lord. How is it possible for you to understand the message of Vraja-dhama, while you are living in hell? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati resides in Vaikuntha, as well as Vrndavana. The witch of maya is harnessed and riding upon your shoulders. How is it that someone like you can understand the activities of person like Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and his pastimes of residing in Vrndavana dhama?'

Then Parvat said, "I would like to remain with you in Navadvipa Dhama." Srila Gaurakisora said, "You cannot remain here in Navadvipa Dhama, because of your offenses to the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas. It is impossible for anyone who offends the Lord's devotees to remain in Navadvipa Dhama. You have offended the lotus feet of Yoga Pitha (the birthplace of Lord Caitanya) in Sri Mayapura Dhama. It is inevitable that you will take the lowest kind of birth. I am also in Mayapura, and simultaneously in Navadvipa. Whoever shows any form of dislike towards Sri Mayapura Dhama will never be able to reside in Navadvipa. Sri Mayapura Dhama is where the son of Sacidevi has taken birth. It is completely transcendental in nature. It is very wonderful how Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and Srila Bhaktivonoda Thakura set the exemplary standard of bhajana to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Mayapura Dhama! Yet you have not obtained the spiritual vision to see that. You have offended one devotee of the Lord, and yet you deceitfully come to another devotee praying for causeless mercy."

Following this, Parvat fell into association with loose women and irreligious persons. In the guise of a beggar, he would have illicit sex with the wives of others. This is the clear result of an offense to the lotus feet of the pure devotee.

A Lusty Person's Vision

One dear associate of Srila Gaurakisora named Mr. Pari came to see Srila Gaurakisora to complain about a great devotee. He said, "That person who you accept as an exalted devotee and who you address as "Prabhu" is exhibiting symptoms of attachment to sense gratification. Most probably he will become deeply absorbed and entangled in wordly sense enjoyment." Hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora remained silent, couched in deep gravity. Mr. Pari who was sitting before him, became very afraid to see his condition. Immediately they drove Mr. Pari away from Srila Gaurakisora place of bhajana. On that day Srila Gaurakisora showed by his practical example the instruction of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura which states, Vaisnava caritra, sarvada pavitrta, yei ninde himsa kari, bhativinoda na sambhase tare thake sada mauna dhari. After that person had left, Srila Gaurakisora still shaking from anger said, "That atheistic person is under the dictations of his own sense gratification. Therefore, he is saddling his own impediments upon the shoulders of the exalted devotees. Devotees of the Lord are never lusty to obtain anything which is unrelated to Lord Krsna. Even if someone is only slightly attached to material sense gratification, it is impossible for pure love of God to manifest in his heart. When a person is deeply attached to everything in relation to Lord Krsna he can purely understand the nature of love of God. Only a devotee deeply attached to Srimati Radharani and Lord Krsna in pure love will naturally manifest symptoms of profound attachment in favorable service towards the Lord and His devotees. The actual devotees of the Lord only serve in a favorable way and never become overly attached to their own sense gratification or that of their relatives. Renunciationists and exploitationists think that the exalted devotees are more attached than the materialists when they see them engaging favorable articles in the Lord's service. Someone who claims to be renounced, but has no attachment to engaging things which can be used in Krsna's service, is simply an imposter. One should give up contact with anyone who offends the devotees of the Lord, even if the offender is a very dear associate. Therefore, I shall never again look upon the face of that atheistic person who has commited this great offense."

Attachment Of The Pure Devotee

Once, a householder came to Srila Gaurakisora and offered him a very expensive shawl. Srila Babaji Maharaja accepted the shawl, and very carefully placed it to his side. After accepting it, he began to praise the person who had given it. Then another householder devotee came and offered Srila Gaurakisora some money. Babaji Maharaja very carefully opened his hand and accepted the money placing it next to him. He then carefully wrapped the money in string, tying the string securely, four or five times. After setting the money aside, Srila Gaurakisora would periodically place his hand to his side to see if the money was properly situated there. At this time there was one very wealthy materialist from Calcutta who noticed this. Upon seeing this, he lost whatever faith he had in Srila Gaurakisora.

Srila Gaurakisora, after some time gave the shawl and money to some other Vaisnavas for their service. Later when that materialistic person visited Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Calcutta, he said, "I went to see Srila Gaurakisora, but I saw that he was very much attached when a person gave him a shawl and some money. He also highly praised the persons who presented these things. What is his level of advancement? I cannot understand this." Upon hearing this from such a materialistic person, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, "You have deceived yourself. What you have seen is simply a pastime. Actually the devotees are never attached to anything which cannot be used in the service of the Lord. They may show great attachment to different things, but only for service to the Lord. Just consider how we view attachment to our material sense pleasure. One who is greatly attached to amassing wealth, and extremely foolish, will think that Srila Gaurakisora is attached to wealth. Srila Gaurakisora shows his favor toward persons who enable favorable service to the devotees to be carried out. However we praise persons those who regularly supply our physical pleasure. Those who are extremely lusty, always see the material world through their perverted vision. Similarly exploitationists and renunciationists think that the attachment shown by the Lord's devotees for those things they require for their service to the Supreme Lord Krsna, is on the same platform as ordinary worldly attachment."

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's Prayer For Initiation

Srila Gaurakisora,and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, manifested one pastime which shows how unflinching devotional service to Lord Krsna is situated far above mundane morality and scholarship. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was very pure in nature, a strict follower of Vaisnava principles, and very learned in all the scriptural conclusions. He was instructed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to take initiation from Srila Gaurakisora. He went to Srila Gaurakisora and prayed to him. Srila Gaurakisora, hearing his prayer, said to him, "I must first ask Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu whether or not I can be merciful unto you. Only then will I be able to give you my decision." The next day Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, again approached Srila Gaurakisora. Srila Gaurakisora answered him, "I have forgotten to ask my Lord." In great anxiety and distress, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, "If you do not bestow your mercy upon me, then I will be unable to live any longer." On the third day, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati approached Srila Gaurakisora for initiation. Srila Gaurakisora replied,"I asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu if I could bestow my mercy upon you, but He replied," The quality of mundane morality and academic scholarship is considered insignificant in light of pure devotion." Hearing this, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati boldly replied, "You are the crown jewel of all deceptors who worship Lord Krsna, and now you will also try to deceive me? If I do not receive the mercy of your lotus feet, then I will certainly give up my life. Srila Ramanujacarya approached Gosthipurna eighteen times for initiation, and later received his mercy. So I will continue to approach you, until one day I will certainly receive your causeless mercy. This is my most serious promise."

Upon hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora became very pleased to see the determination of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati,and bathed him with the dust of his lotus feet. On that day, within the island of Godruma, in the beautiful garden of Svananda-Sukhada-kunja, Srila Gaurakisora initiated Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati as his disciple.

The Pride Of The False Renunciant

One day, in Sridham Mayapura at the holy birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a proud disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura named Gopal dasa Babaji, began to imitate the renunciation of Srila Gaurakisora. Gopal dasa, who seemed to be absorbed in devotional service, always sat in one place performing his bhajana. He neglected his other service, always sat in one place performing his bhajana. He neglected his other service of watching the garden. Horses, cows and goats would wander into the area and destroy the garden. Gopal dasa always had a very indifferent attitude towards this. Gopal would chant the Holy name of Krsna incessantly. Since he was so absorbed in devotional service, all these external activities seemed less important to him. He was not very much attached to performing his relative duties. Once he proudly approached Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and told him that Srila Gaurakisora lacked the qualities of a true renunciant. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati harshly chastised Gopal for his ultimate benefit. He began to describe the unearthly character of Srila Gaurakisora and the way he was so absorbed in Krsna consciousness. He glorified the magnanimous renunciation that Srila Gaurakisora displayed. After some time, Gopal dasa approached Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and complained about how Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had chastised him. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura informed Gopal dasa,"Whatever Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati told him was for his own benefit."

It is said that in Mayapura, even the Muslims knew that the renunciation of Srila Gaurakisora was genuine, whereas Gopal dasa was known as a cheap imitationist. A person who imitates advanced devotees of the Lord by making a show of renunciation, can never actually become a real renunciant, or perform solitary worship of the Supreme Lord in devotional ecstasy.

A Devious Prayer for Causeless Mercy

Once, a cheater named Syama, in the guise of a devotee approached Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in Mayapura as if interested in worshipping the Lord. This person would often come to speak with Srila Gaurakisora, but Srila Gaurakisora would never pay any special attention to him. Syama had heard that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was very dear to Srila Gaurakisora, so he approached him with a special request. He said, "If you could just please ask Srila Gaurakisora to be merciful unto me, then I could become most fortunate."

Many times, he would come, and make this request to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. In time Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati went to see Srila Gaurakisora and asked him to bestow special mercy upon Syama. Srila Gaurakisora discussed the pretentious nature of Syama with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and told him that because he was a resolute devotee of Lord Krsna it was not good to request for the benediction of a rascal like Syama. Srila Gaurakisora discussed this with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati for a long time.

After some time, Srila Gaurakisora took some dust from his own feet and rubbed it on the head of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. He blessed him saying, "You are a nondifferent representative of Nityananda Prabhu as your soft heart melts when you observe the distresses of the living entities. But this person Syama, who has come to you, is actually a deceitful hypocrite. He does not wish to fulfill his real self-interest. Simply for the purpose of deceiving me he is pretending to ask for my mercy."

After some time, Syama displayed his deceitful nature. Once he went to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, holding a human skull in his hand. Lifting it, he began to drink water out of it. Then he exclaimed to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, "Just see, I am even more renounced than Srila Gaurakisora. Can he drink water from the skull of a human being like me?" Hearing this, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, "You rascal! Leave immediately! Why are you speaking such hateful words about my spiritual master? You are a demon and an atheist! Therefore you have no taste for the activities of devotional service. You will definately descend to the hellish planetary systems." After some time, because Syama had commited a great offense to Srila Gaurakisora and was very conceited, he became a victim of illicit sex. He spent his time caring for the prostitutes of Navadvipa by begging for coconut oil to condition their hair.

Resolute Worship Of The Holy Name

There was an old Vaisnava in the vicinity of Srila Gaurakisora in Kuliya who began to engage himself in full-hearted Deity worship in place of harinama-bhajana. Srila Gaurakisora commented on this one day in the presence of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. "That old Vaisnava is spending his last days in worshipping the Deity!" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati then said, "What? Are you trying to deceive me? It is impossible for this Vaisnava who lives in Kuliya to deviate in any way whatsoever?" Srila Gaurakisora then replied, "O, if that's the case then I have nothing else to say." Srila Gaurakisora was pointing out that exclusive remembrance of the Lord's holy name which was previously the main object of the exhalted vaisnava's worship might be minimized if importance was placed on Deity worship in his last days.

Pure Love And Worldly Lust

One person, who was the child of a scholarly Gosvami, came to Kuliya in Navadvipa and began to lecture on the Tenth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam called Bhramara-gita. (The chapter describing Srimati Radharani conversing with Lord Krsna in the form of a bumblebee). After two or three days of lecturing, news reached Srila Gaurakisora that the visitors discourse was so wonderful that no one had ever previously heard such descriptions within Navadvipa. Srila Gaurakisora then replied, "You should never go back and hear these lectures again. Whenever it rains, the seeds of unwanted weeds begin to sprout first. Next those seeds which have been carefully planted, begin to sprout, but a portion of them soon die after germination. One whose heart is transcendental to the modes of material nature, free from material lust and always engaged in resolute devotional service to the guru and Vaisnavas is the fit recipient. Love of Godhead can actually sprout in the hearts of such persons who are free from the impediments in devotion. This takes place by congregationally hearing and chanting about the pastimes of the Supreme personality of Godhead. When those who have materialistic desires hear the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, the seeds of material lust will fructify. While they are hearing the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna only lust will sprout and grow in their hearts. Because they imitate the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krsna, it is only natural that the lusty desire seeds in their hearts grow and flourish even more. Conditioned souls think the pastimes of Sri Radha and Govinda are material affairs like an actor and actress because their minds are covered with lust.

Whoever thinks that he has faith in the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha- Krsna lila, and that he knows that their pastimes are spiritual and not material can nevercheck their lusty attachments due to the infuence of the illusory energy, maya. It is not sufficient to claim that one knows that Their pastimes are spiritual or that one has faith in those pastimes." After hearing this, one person told Srila Gaurakisora "I saw with my own eyes that some of the devotees present during the discourses on the Bhramara-gita began to cry and loudly shout in ecstasy,'Ah, Radhe! Ah, Krsna!' With great emotion they discussed the different pastimes of the Lord." Srila Babaji Maharaja then said,"What you have seen is not actually spiritual emotion. It is a by-product of the intoxicating effects of lusty desires. This stands as the reason why this material world is doomed. You mean to say you have understood just by looking at their tears that they are absorbed in love of God! How is it possible for a person that has never been absorbed in love of Godhead to recognize it when they view everything through the medium of the illusory energy? Go and tell those persons who are so immersed in ecstasy to give up their homes and all such big assemblies and go to live on the bank of the Ganges river. In this way by surrendering to the Supreme Lord, they should seriously give up all of their attachment to sense gratification and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead . If they can do this for a year or so, we will see them become very eager to hear the explanations of the Bhramara-gita."   Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji - top
  

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