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While
contemplating the spread of Krishna consciousness in the Western World
and the wonderful mood of the foreign devotees of the Sri Chaitanya
Saraswat Math, Srila Govinda Maharaj quoted this expression of Srila
Sridhdar Maharaj, which he composed in Sri Sri Dayita-Dasa-Dashakam,
found in the book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam. Srila Govinda Maharaj
declared, "Srila Guru Maharaj always made the finest points and he
expressed them using the finest shlokas. Sripad Bon Maharaj told Guru
Maharaj, 'Among the followers of Saraswati Thakur, you are the best!'
Guru Maharaj asked, 'Why am I the best?' and Sripad Bon Maharaj
replied, 'Because you are the only one of the disciples of Srila
Prabhupad who has composed a Sanskrit book (Sri Sri
Prapanna-jivanamrta) and nobody can compete with your conceptions.'
That was Srila Guru Maharaj's ability, he always took everything to the
finest point."
He
inundated the whole universe of countless living beings - whether
brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, less than sudras, and even
mlecchas, with the oceanic nectar of the holy name of Sri Radha-
Krishna. Although unapproachable by the liberationists and
yogic perfectionists, he is the friend of the fallen, the personified
mercy potency of Sri Gauranga. O Dina-nayana, wherever that great soul
may be, please swiftly take this servitor there.
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When
Sripad Akinchan Maharaj returned to India from his recent tour in
Ukraine/Russia, he brought with him a copy of the new and extremely
beautiful Russian magazine, Sadhu Sanga, hot off the press. Although
not able to read Russian, Srila Govinda Maharaj looked it over again
and again. He wanted to know who the editor was and when it was
printed. When he came to the picture of Brahmaji offering prayers to
Sri Krishna he repeatedly quoted this verse.
Brahma
prayed, "O lord who is worshipped by the whole world, with your
beautiful form the color of dark new cloud, covered with the lightening
of your yellow garments, you are the eternal son of the king of the
cohwerds, Nanda. Your beautiful effulgent face is enhanced by your
gunja earings and the peacock feathers in your hair. With your garland
of forest flowers and a ball of food in your hand, you are equipped
with your stick for controlling the cows, your buffalo horn and your
flute and this has further increased your splendid beauty. Your lotus
feet are extremely soft and I offer my prayers at your feet."
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Srila
Govinda Maharaj was discussing the faith of the Western devotees and he
further elaborated on the succinct expressions of Srla Sridhar Maharaj.
He explained how the Western devotees are not concerned about anything
but Krishna consciousness. They are not worried about the future or
careers, family and the various other things that plague materialists
like myself. He quoted Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami from
Chaitanya-Caritamrta and then he quoted Srila Sridhar Maharaj's own
compositon, which made the point even clearer. His Divine Grace then
remarked,"Previously some things in the books were clear and some were
hazy, but now everything is clear and there is a necessity to read all
the books again."
(If
it is necessary for him, what to speak of us. Although everything still
may not be clear to us, we have to remember that it is a living
conception and not something we have memorized on understood some years
ago.)
 
When one's faith becomes firm and confident that simply by serving
Krishna ( and more importantly his devotees) one accomplishes
everything, without the necessity of any other activities, such faith
is called 'shraddha'.
 
"Serving the supreme lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna will bring about
complete perfection." Proceeding with this faith, transcending
scriptural rules and in very respect finding exclusive shelter in the
lotus feet of Sri Krishna, is called saranagati, full self
surrender.
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