Foreword

We are insignificant souls attempting to fly across the infinite sky, like fledglings with so much desire but practically no capacity. Seeing the great valiant devotees like Garuḍa effortlessly soaring over forests, mountains, rivers, seas and oceans, we may realise that we are but neophytes — fledglings of finite capacity. Nonetheless, ought we not feel the desire to fly? Furthermore, who, however great a personality he may be, has ever been or ever will be able to cross the ocean of the boundless glories of the Supreme Lord? Thākura Śrī Vṛndāvana Dāsa, the Vyāsa of Śrī Chaitanya-līlā, has openly stated: «lāg bali’ chali’ yāya sindhu tarihāre yaśera sindhu na deya kūla, adhika adhika bāde» (Śrī Chaitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 1.71).

«(Even) the unlimitedly powerful Śrī Balarāma (Śrī Anantadeva) tries to cross the ocean of the Lord’s glories (attempting to sing all the glories of the Lord using His thousands of mouths), but He never reaches the shore. Rather, that ocean expands more and more.» Thus, we can see no reason for a fledgling to feel ashamed of his limited capacity; what, then, is his defect in trying to fly?

In the present day and age, the entire universe exalts in the vibration of the divine ecstatic wave of the wealth of pure Hari-Kathāmṛta, the nectarine tidings of the Supreme Lord, that continuously flow from the holy personage of our Supremely Worshipful Divine Master, Universal Preceptor Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj. He is the King of kings of the Tridaṇḍi Sannyāsis, and his pious pure devotees who have had the fortune of imbibing from him their heart of heart’s love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s devotion, carry with reverence the triumphant victory flag of paraṁ vijayate Śrī-Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrttanam — the supreme victory of the congregational chanting of the holy names, as preached by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself personified as Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nityānanda. This mission is the treasured life and soul of Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj’s Eternally Worshipful Lord and Master, Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Thākura. By this method of the grand congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra, the devotees in the noble humility of devotion carry and distribute their wares from door to door. They bring the divine message that expands the mellows of love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Sweet Absolute. And the only payment they ask for in exchange for their ‘merchandise’ is the simplest sincere faith, however meagre it may be.

From our Divine Master’s holy talks, as recorded from his recent conversations with his learned Eastern and Western devotees (until last year when he departed from this earthly plane), some drops of the nectar of his revealed conclusive truths par excellence (su-siddhānta) have been carefully preserved in their natural unparalleled beauty and compiled herein as Śrī Bhakti Rakṣaka Divya-vāṇi — «Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion.»

From forty centres throughout the world, utilising many approved methods and in numerous languages — via video/audio tapes and books, the spiritual practices and precepts of His Divine Grace are being fearlessly preached by the souls surrendered unto his lotus feet which are the abode of all courage. At the present time, only his benedictine grace is the universal dispensation to break the perpetual slumber of the souls sleeping in the lap of illusion  — sanctifying and blessing them by establishing their intrinsic spiritual identities and awakening their God-realisation. Blessed with blooming hearts, they now constantly chant the unending glories of the Supreme Saviour of the fallen, the Primeval Origin of all incarnations of Godhead, Śrī Śachīnandana Gaurahari.

As in the divine language of Śrī Prabodhānanda Saraswatīpāda:

kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tridaśapūrākāśa-puṣpāyate
durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate
viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate vidhi-mahendrādiś cha kitāyate
yat kāruṇya-kaṭākṣa-vaibhavatāṁ taṁ gauram eva stumaḥ

«Theyogis’ most worshippable goal of merging with the Absolute appears as hell; the religious sense-pleasure-seekers’ sought-after reward of entrance to heaven is seen as an imaginary insignificant flower in the sky; the senses, which are indomitable for the whimsical sense-enjoyers, appear as a defanged black cobra; the entire universe is perceived as the embodiment of the ecstasy of Kṛṣṇa; and even the exhalted post of Lord Brahmā, Lord Indra, etc., fervently sought after by the most elevated of the demigods, is seen as comparable to the position of an insect — for those devotees who have been blessed with the supreme fortune of receiving the merciful glance of the Supreme Lord Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. Ever do I sing the infinite glories of that Supreme Lord Śrī Gaurasundara.»

Conditioned souls as we are, it is an honest fact that we have nothing to boast about. Yet, when we feel we are bereft, we are reminded of this poetic line, and we realise that our true wealth really is — »guru-gaurave garvita dhanya mora», «Blessed are we in Śrī Gurudeva’s bounty; His divine treasure is our pride and glory.»

With this conception, all our hopes, our prospects, our honour, our good name — everything will become as brilliant as the early morning sun («guru-gaṇa-śire punaḥ śobha pāya śata-guṇa — All desirable objects, when offered to our Gurus, become glorified one hundredfold, as Their crown-jewels.»). In the presence of the self-effulgent sun we can never feel ourselves to be destitute.

In conclusion, while admitting the probability of flaws in our rendering, I would consider it well to petition the good readers by quoting these illustrative verses of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura —

«śrī-guru-charaṇa-kṛpā sāmarthya labhiyā
e-hena apūrva vṛkṣa dilāma āniyā
ṭāniyā ānite vṛkṣa e karkaśa mana
nāśila ihāra śobhā śuna sādhujana

tomrā sakale hao e vṛkṣera mālī
śraddhā-vāri diyā punaḥ kara rūpaśālī
phalibe kalyāṇa-phala — yugala-sevana
kariba sakale mili’ tāhā āśvādana»

By the grace of Śrī Guru’s lotus feet,

I gained the ability

To bring you this beautiful tree, so sweet,

Of wish-fulfilling capacity.

O devotees, please hear me:

By dragging to this world that tree,

My harsh mind has taken away

Some beauty and grace that she did display.

But you, O devotees, are the attendants of her garden,

Who supply her sustenance and loving cultivation;

By the sweet waters of your devotional heart,

To once again her full beauty impart.

Being pleased by such tender care,

Benedictine fruits she will graciously bear:

The Divine Couple’s service in pure devotion;

Together we’ll taste in holy association.

«sakala vaiṣṇavapade mora namaskara,

ithe kichu aparādha nahuka āmāra»

I respectfully bow to the lotus feet of all the Vaiṣṇavas, praying that there is no offence in this attempt to please them.