sri sri guru gauranga jayatah!
Year 1, Issue 3, Amāvasyā
Speical Edition
Posted: 5 April 2019
Dedicated to and Inspired by
nitya-lila pravista om visnupada
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
The Primary Cause of Attaining Prema
śrī śrī guru-gaurāṅgau jayataḥ
Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha
P.O. Mathurā (U.P)
Date: 26 December 1971
śrī śrī vaiṣṇava-caraṇe-daṇḍavat-nati-pūrvakeyam
Mā, know that my affectionate blessings are with you. I was greatly joyful to receive your letter. Subala and Śeṣaśāyī were my scribes. I don’t write in Bengali very well, so my reply was delayed.
I hope that you and everyone at home is well. You are devoted and faithful, that is why all the Vaiṣṇavas have great affection for you. It is a very auspicious sign that you have such determination, conviction and one-pointedness in bhakti-sādhana. It is my prayer to Bhagavān, guru and the Vaiṣṇavas that you progress on the path of bhakti with such conviction. Know that niṣṭhā in śrī guru and an attitude of service to the Vaiṣṇavas is the primary cause of attaining prema for the lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
In order to advance on the path of bhakti, it is appropriate to always remember the instructions of Śrī Upadeśāmṛta: (1) conquering the six urges, urges of the mind, anger, speech, tongue, belly and genitals, through hari-kathāand harināma, (2) carefully avoiding the six faults: overeating, over-endeavour, useless talks, niyamāgraha (adhering to rules below or above one’s qualification and non-adherence to rules), bad association and greed, (3) cultivating the six qualities: enthusiastically chanting harināma, hearing hari-kathā, and serving Śrī Hari, Guru and Vaiṣṇavas; having the faith that Kṛṣṇa will certainly show His grace; being patient if there are obstacles on the path of bhakti or delays in obtaining your cherished goal; practising all the limbs of bhakti with enthusiasm and determination; giving up unfavourable association; and always keeping good association.
By regularly studying Jaiva-dharma, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and other devotional literatures, conviction develops. You must chant [a fixed number of] harināma regularly. If you do so, then you will attain the mercy of Śrī Gaurasundara and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.
What more is there to say? Even while engaged in necessary activities to maintain your life, endeavour to absorb your mind in thought of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. How long will you be staying in Allahabad? Write back.
Thus, I conclude.
Vaiṣṇava dāsānudāsa,
Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa
