AN ERA NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN

Srila Gaurakisora Still Lives in Our Hearts



Translated by Vyankata dasa Brahmacari

Edited by Kesava Bharati dasa Vanacari



Dedicated to My spiritual master and eternal guide
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



CONTENTS

Forward.................................................

Preface.................................................

The Real Spiritual Master and Disciple..................

The External and Internal Identity of Goura Kisora......

The Vaisnava Imposter...................................

In Svananda Kunja.......................................

The Material Universe...................................

Sri Mayapura Dhama......................................

The Real and Pretender Bhajananandi.....................

Deception and Actually residing in the Holy Dhama.......

The New Babaji..........................................

Deceptiveness and Devotional Service....................

The Grains of the Materialist...........................

The Love of Srila Goura Kisora for Sri Mayapura Dhama...

Displaying Ecstatic Symptoms............................

The Disturbing Explanation of the devotee...............

The Householder Vow.....................................

Renunciation for Krsna's Pleasure.......................

The Highest Happiness...................................

The Different forms of Maya.............................

Srila Goura Kisora dasa Babaji and the Supersoul........

General Instructions....................................

Astakala Lila...........................................

Householder life and Goloka Vrndavana...................

In Touch with a Paid Scholar............................

The Devotee and the Hypocrit............................

The Enjoyment of Wealth.................................

The Desire of Attaining Wealth..........................

Gouranga! Gouranga! or Taka! Taka!......................

Results of One's Sinful Activities......................

The Attonement for Illicit Sex..........................

The Offence of Imitation................................

Srila Goura Kisora and Manindranath.....................

Enjoying While Hiding...................................

Offences unto the Spiritual Master......................

The Vision of a Lusty Person............................

The Pure Devotee's Attachment...........................

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Prayer for Initiation...........

The Pride of the False Renuciate........................

Longing for Deceit......................................

Undeterred Devotional Service...........................

Love of God Versus Lust.................................

The Real Beggar.........................................

The Duty of the Householder.............................

Return Ticket...........................................

External Purity and Material Desire.....................

Lord Caitanya's Birthplace..............................

The Feast of the Paramahamsa............................

How Can I Know a Vaisnava?..............................

Imitating the Pure Devotee..............................

Other Desires...........................................

Srila Goura Kisora and Bhaktivinode Thakur..............

The Desire of the Devotee...............................

The Blessings of Srila Goura Kisora.....................

The Disappearance of Srila Goura Kisora.................



NAMO GAURA-KISORAYA SAKSAD-VAIRAGYA-MURTAYE

VIPRALAMBHA-RASAMBUDHE PADAMBUJAYA TE NAMAH

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja
(the spiritual master of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati), who is renunciation
personified. He is always merged in a feeling of separation and intense
love of Krsna.



"ALL GLORIES TO GURU AND GOURANGA"

"SRI SRI GURU GOURANGA JAYATAH"



Preface
-------

The following descriptions of the most highly renounced acarya (spiritual
teacher), Om Visnupada Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji documents a significant
part of the history of our Gaudiya Vaisnava disciplic succession. These
wonderful, mind-attracting stories and instructions vividly illustrate that the
problems we face in our march against maya (illusion) are not new manifestations
of her manifold trickery, but are eternal displays. Moreover, a deeper insight
into the relationships among our previous acaryas strengthens the faith of
the inquisitive and intelligent disciple. And to those narrow-minded persons
who entertain doubts about the teachings of the acaryas in the last century,
this work will present a challenge based on actual facts, quotes and historical
records now at our disposal.

The following articles appeared in the Sajjana Tosani monthly magazine in the
year 1917. The articles, entitled Anaran Prabhura katha or "The Instuctions of
My Spiritual Master" appeared in the nineteenth volume, numbers five and six.
The editors of the Caitanya Matha corrected these magazine articles by Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and compiled them into a small book. The
headings of the stories were given by the editorial staff to depict their
specific instructions. The original articles can be found in the Devananda
Gaudiya Matha in Navadvip, West Bengal as well as in their branch in Mathura,
Utar Pradesh.


The Real Spiritual Master and Disciple
--------------------------------------

The articles by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura describe the unearthly
character of Srila Gaurakisora das Babaji Maharaja. The descriptions of
spiritual leaders by historians and ordinary authors cannot compare to these
unique presentations, which preserve the transcendental qualities of Srila
Gaurakisora and simultaneously reveal the path by which the rare character of
such an immortal personality can be followed.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura brings to light how we pretentiously
approach the spiritual master, feigning advancement, pregnant with arrogance,
and intoxicated by desires for sense gratification. The neophyte devotee is
always in a precarious situation. Due to a poor fund of knowledge and lack of
faith, he has the tendency to imitate. By studying the instructions of Srila
Gaurakisora one can learn how to escape the jaws of false renunciation and
offensive mockery. In other words, the present level of our spiritual
advancement is made obvious upon hearing the highly renounced example of Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur describes himself before his meeting
Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji: "I have been busy within this material world
trying to bring sense gratification within the grasp of my hand. I have often
thought that by obtaining the object of sense gratification, all my
shortcomings will be fulfilled. I often attained different assets that were
indeed very rare, but my own personal shortcomings were never mitigated. In
this material world I have had the association of very high-class, aristocratic
persons. However, seeing their various deficiencies, I could not offer them
praise. The most merciful Supreme Lord, Sri Gourasundara, seeing me in such a
lamentable condition at such a time of diversity, gave permission to His two
dearmost devotees to grant their blessings to me. Because I was always
intoxicated with a worldly false ego, wanting again and again
self-aggrandizement, I deprived myself of my own real benefit. But because of
the influence of my previous births' activities in devotional service, I came
into the association of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, who was the form of my
spiritual well wisher.

"My spiritual master would go and visit Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and many
times would reside with him. Srila Bhaktivinode, out of his compassion for
other living entities, pointed out my spiritual master, Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji. Upon seeing my spiritual master, the extent of worldly false ego
diminished. I know that all the other living entities who have taken the human
form of life were also fallen and low like myself. But by gradually observing
the spiritual character of my master, I realized that only a Vaisnava could
reside in this material world and be of exemplary character."


The External and Internal Identity of Srila Gaurakisora
-------------------------------------------------------

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji appeared almost one hundred years ago in the
district of Pharidapura next to the place called Tepakhola in the village of
Vagyana. In that village, which is situated on the shore of the Padma River, he
was born as the son of a Vaisya named Vamsi das. During his boyhood his mother
and father arranged his marriage and he remained in household life for almost
twenty-nine years, working as a grain broker. After the death of his wife, he
left his business and approached Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji, requesting from
him the traditional paramahamsa Vaisnava Babaji dress. After accepting Babaji
initiation from Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji, who was a disciple of Srila
Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Srila Gaurakisora travelled from village to village in
Vrndavana, continually performing his worship to Lord Krsna for approximately
thirty years. During this time he would sometimes travel to the holy places of
pilgrimage in northern and western India. He associated with Sri Svarupa dasa
Babaji in Jagannatha Puri, Srila Bhagavan dasa Babaji in Kalina, and Sri
Caitanya dasa Babaji in Khulia. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji became famous
among the great devotees of Vrndavana and was given the appropriate name
bhajananandi. Even though Srila Gaurakisora received such exalted honor, he
never secretly endeavored for even a drop of material sense gratification. He
was totally indifferent to material enjoyment. Self-satisfied and alone, he
performed his pure, unalloyed devotional pastimes in a deep devotional mood.

In the year 1897, during the month of Phalguna (March), when the Yoga Pith (the
exact birth-place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) in Sri Mayapura Dhama was
revealed, Srila Gaurakisora came to Sri Navadvipa Dhama from Vrndavana. From
this time until his disappearance, Srila Gaurakisora lived in different
villages in the area of Sri Navadvipa Dhama, realizing them as nondifferent
from Vrndavana. He begged dry foodstuffs from the householders of the holy
dhama, sometimes offering the food in his hand to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. To cook, he would often collect dry wood from the paths and he
would wash used earthen pots that people had discarded along the roadside near
the River Ganga. To clothe himself, he would go to the shore of the Ganga and
collect and wash discarded cloth that had been used to cover corpses in the
burning ghats. In this way, always remaining independent from the support of
others, he fulfilled his practical necessities by using items that had no value
for anyone.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura would often cite the behavior of Srila Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji to explain the meaning of nirapeksa, "indifference." He often
discussed the unequaled renunciation, pure devotion, and attachment to Krsna
that Babaji Maharaja displayed. Babaji Maharaja frequently visited Svananda
Kunja, a place within Godrumadvipa (one of the nine islands of Navadvipa),
where Bhaktivinode Thakura spent his last days in retirement. Srila Gaurakisora
would come to hear Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam
and other topics concerning the intimate conclusions of devotional service.
Babaji Maharaja would display fervent enthusiasm upon hearing these discourses.

His only possessions were the Tulasi mala he wore around his neck and the set
of Tulasi mala he kept in his hand for counting. He also kept a few books, such
as Narottama dasa Thakura's works, Prarthana and Prema Bhakti Chandrika.
Sometimes Gaurakisora dasa Babaji would wear no Tulasi mala around his neck and
he would hold a torn knotted cloth in his hand for chanting his rounds.
Sometimes, he would wear his kopin open and sometimes, he would wear no kopin
at all. Sometimes Srila Gaurakisora would utter harsh sounds of disgust for no
apparent reason.

Even though Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was not learned in Sanskrit grammatical
rules, still the purport and conclusions of all scriptures were luminous in his
heart and character. No one could ever find an opportunity to serve him because
he refused to accept any kind of service from anyone. Whenever anyone saw his
unearthly state of renunciation, they could only remember the topics of Srila
Raghunatha das Goswami. Every kind of opulence, such as omniscience, was always
waiting with folded hands to serve him. He was able to reveal the deceitful
nature lying within the heart of any pretender. Even if someone was not
residing in his vicinity, Babaji Maharaja could elaborately and scrutinizingly
reveal that person's cheating nature, because he was in contact with the
Supersoul in the heart. This opulence was not, however, Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji's principal virtue. He exhibited the highest standard of devotion to the
Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, and because of his exemplary character, he was
renowned as the embodiment of the deepest degree of separation from Lord Sri
Krsna. His pure devotion distinguished him from all other Vaisnavas and
eternally spread the luster of his lotus feet.


The Vaisnava Imposter
---------------------

Many people--young, old, learned, foolish, proud, and reasonable--came into
contact with Srila Gaurakisora without realizing his real identity. The
devotees of Lord Krsna have this mystic opulence. Coming to consult with Srila
Gaurakisora about their insignificant desires, many persons would get
suggestions that were usually a cause of disappointment. Innumerable persons
accepted the babaji dress, acting as devotees of the Lord. Far from being
sadhus (saintly persons), they were actually imposters. Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji never accepted such a way of life. The sincerity in his activities was
self-evident. His loving attitude was such that even when he obtained an
opulent offering, his renunication predominated.

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji never displayed any distaste for persons opposed
to him. Nor did he ever manifest special affection for those very dear to him.
He would often say, "In this material world I am all alone in my service to
Lord Krsna. Everyone is worshipable by me." Many materialistic, foolish persons
masquerading as devotees would surround him. They would consider themselves as
objects of his affection; mean while, their minds were engaged in so many
worldly sense objects. Srila Gaurakisora never showed any intention of driving
them away or of compromising with them.


In Svananda Kunja
-----------------

In 1898, soon after Svananda Sukhada Kunja was built in Godrumadvipa, Navadvipa
Dhama, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati first met his spiritual master, Srila
Gaurakisora. On that day, the embodiment of the highest boon in the succession
of the Rupanuga Sampradaya, Om Paramahamsa Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, in
deep humility, following the direct instruction of Sri Varsabhanavi devi
(Radharani) and singing in a plaintive voice, arrived in Svananda Kunja. The
transcendental crest jewel of the highest renounced order, avadhuta, was
wearing a cap made of tiger skin and carrying a basket of various items and
materials for executing his service. He offered Srila Bhaktisiddhanta four or
five pieces of rope for chanting rounds, a stamp for tilaka with the initials
Hare Krsna, the tiger skin cap, and paraphernalia for worship. Srila
Gaurakisora had received the basket and cap from his spiritual master, Srila
Bhagavat dasa Babaji. In January, 1900, Srila Gaurakisora initiated Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

The great devotee, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, frequently came to Svananda
Kunja to hear Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's explanations of the Srimad
Bhagavatam. He would usually arrive at about three o'clock in the afternoon and
leave around five o'clock. On several occasions, he would spend the night in a
corner of Svananda Kunja in a small hut. At times he would stay at a place
called Amalajoda next to Svananda Kunja in the district of Parddhamana. At
other times he would stay at Pradyumna Kunja at the residence of Sri Ksetranath
Bhaktinidhi and Sri Vipina Bihari. He would collect dry wood and old, discarded
clay containers and would place these on the verandas there. Another devotee,
Cattopadhyaya Bhakti Bhrnga would also regularly come to Navadvipa Dhama to
hear Bhaktivinode Thakura's lectures. Occasionally Srila Gaurakisora would
accept prasada from Svananda Kunja and then again he would fast and under no
circumstances accept prasada. In this way he would either fast, accept
prasadam, or cook for himself. At times Babaji Maharaja would act as if
afflicted by a disease called siroroga, or insanity and blindness. Srila
Bhaktivinode Thakuta arranged a proper diet for him, but to the Thakura's
dismay Babaji Maharaja continued enacting his intense renunciation. He never
paid any attention to the diet Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura arranged. He enacted
this pastime to such a degree that eventually he almost lost sight in both
eyes.

In 1908 Srila Gaurakisora lost his external vision completely. The following
year he stopped all traveling and began to reside in Navadvipa. He built a
kuthir for performing bhajan at Pradyumna Kunja, which was previously owned by
the deceased Saraccandra Vasu of South Calcutta. There he would chant japa and
perform his worship of Lord Krsna. Now and then, having lost external bodily
consciousness, Srila Gaura Kisora would act as if he could not recognize
whether he was dressed or not. In that condition he would often go to swim in
the Sarasvati River with all his cloth open. Afterwards, he would enter into
his small bhajan kuthir and in a deep voice he would begin calling the gopis of
Vrndavana.


The Material Universe
---------------------

During the time Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was acting as if he was losing his
eyesight, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati requested him to go to Calcutta for
proper treatment. Bhaktivinode Thakura also requested him many times to go
there, but Srila Gaurakisora would say, "I will never go to the material
universe, Calcutta." Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura told Babaji Maharaja that his
servant, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, would be in Calcutta and so Srila
Gaurakisora would not have to undergo any inconvenience. "I will never accept
his service," replied Srila Gaurakisora. "I will drown myself first in the
Sarasvati River. If I drown myself in the Sarasvati River, then perhaps I can
take birth as a ghost." Then Srila Gaurakisora left very quickly, proceeding
toward the Sarasvati River, which flowed in front of Svananda Kunja. Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, running behind him, humbly requested again and again
that he come back. From that day, Srila Babaji Maharaja was seen nor heard for
about forty-five days. Then, suddenly, after forty-five days, he arrived at
Svananda Kunja and declared, "By killing myself I will not obtain Sri Krsna.
Nevertheless, I cannot tolerate anyone serving me directly." Although requested
hundreds of times to take medicine, Srila Gaurakisora never consented. He
always followed Ekadasi without accepting water. On days other than Ekadasi he
would eat dried, cracked rice and dried pepper that had been soaked in Ganges
water. His renunciation was not false, but was that which gave pleasure to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.


Sri Mayapura Dhama
------------------

From 1907 to 1908. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta lived in Mayapur at the Yoga Pith.
Here the Adhoksaja Visnu Deity, found during the digging of the Caitanya Matha,
later manifested. Before the construction of the temple the place was called
Kanatala. Srila Gaurakisora spent much of his time there. At this time, Babaji
Maharaja gave instructions to Bhaktisiddhanta about the mystery of the
disciple's service to his guru and the example of proper behavior for
Vaisnavas. Once, although completely blind, Babaji Maharaja arrived alone in
Sri Dhama Mayapura at the Yoga Pith, at two o'clock in the morning. Later in
the morning, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, amazed to see Srila Gaurakisora,
inquired, "When did you arrive?" "I arrived at about two in the morning,"
replied Babaji Maharaja. Completely astonished, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati then
asked, "What is it that brought you here last night, and how was it possible to
acquire light to see the path?"

"One person showed me the proper way," answered Srila Gaurakisora. Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati replied, "We can see by our external vision, but you
cannot see. Who would bring you such a long distance by hand? And then, upon
arriving here, who would suddenly leave in the middle of the night? How is it
that you were able to come? It must have been Sri Krsna who personaly brought
you here." Hearing this supposition by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Babaji
Maharaja began to laugh slightly. The fact was that in those days one could not
walk from Kulia to Mayapura because there were no footpaths and no boat
landings. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati again inquired, "Who brought you
accross the river?" Again Srila Gaurakisora laughingly answered, "One person
took me accross the river." His disciple could then understand that this person
was none other then Vrajanandana, Sri Krsna.


The Real and Pretender Bhajananandi
-----------------------------------

Once, while Srila Gaurakisora was residing in the dharmasala in Kulia, Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati asked him many questions about the residents of
Vrndavana and the various devotees who were performing solitary worship there.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta especially asked about the bhajananandis, who were reputed
to be perfect, realized souls. Srila Gaurakisora laughed again and again upon
hearing this question, finally stating, "They are all imposters."

One babaji residing at Kusuma Sarovara was renowned as a great bhajananandi. He
had a few disciples who were also reputed to be perfectly realized persons. But
Srila Gaura Kisora did not even slightly agree to the authenticity of their
worship. After some time, these "great souls" were afflicted with leprosy of
the throat and left their bodies after extreme suffering. They had resided in
the Holy Dhama with their intelligence bent on sense gratification and thus
they would behave offensively toward Srila Gaura Kisora.


Deception and Actual Residence in the Holy Dhama
------------------------------------------------

One day a young devotee, very anxiously desiring to serve and reside in the
Holy Dhama of Navadvipa, came and revealed his intentions to Srila Gaurakisora.
The young man had made arrangements to remain in the Holy Dhama and as a doctor
treat sick persons. He planned to beg from the residents of the Dhama and sell
his medicine on the side. Then, with the profits he could maintain himself and
give free medical treatment to sick patients. He considered that in this way he
could perform his bhajan and at the same time perform the highest welfare
activity. To confirm his plans he came to get the advice of Srila Gaurakisora.
When he arrived and presented his proposal, he quoted the following verses from
Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi Lila 10:50-51):

pratigraha nahi kare, na laya kara dhana  atma-vrtti kari kare kutumbe bharana

cikitsa karena yare hoiya sadaya  deha-roga bhava-roga, dui tara ksaya

"Srila Murari Gupta never accepted charity from his friends, nor did he accept
money from anyone. He practiced being a physician and maintained his family
with his earnings. As Murari Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy, both
their bodily and spiritual diseases ceased."

Srila Gaurakisora could understand the restlessness of the doctor and his
pretensions of wanting to live in the Holy Dhama for his so-called devotional
service. Srila Gaurakisora made this evident when he explained, "Murari Gupta
is an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya and is always residing in the Holy
Dhama. He never suggested any intentions of residing in the Supreme Lord's Holy
Dhama by supporting himself through unjust means to enjoy sense gratification.
He never, at the expense of any temple, supported his family, nor was he ever
solely interested in earning money to maintain a full stomach. He would never
accept charity from his friends or any other persons. He was the direct form of
the storehouse of love of Godhead. By his mercy, persons would obtain the mercy
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whomever he would treat would become completely
free from disease and obtain loving affection unto the Supreme Lord. If one
does not follow the example of his character, one must suffer the
distressed-filled results of his past misdeeds, because of one's false
pretensions of seemingly performing devotional service while actually
supporting sense gratification. You are a patient yourself of this material
world. How will you properly treat others? You must incessantly and seriously
pray for the mercy of Srila Murari Gupta. Then you will be able to understand
what is actual benefit. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed that one must have
no false pretentions in his intelligence when chanting Hare Krsna. Those who
have such intentions are considered less intelligent. You should give up your
bad intelligence and begin the process of chanting the glories of the Supreme
Lord. If anyone performs devotional service with your false intentions, then
one's devotion becomes a product of lust and everything is lost. The
administering of free medical treatment for the purpose of self-prestige and
the desire to reside in the Holy Dhama have no point of unity. A person
desirous of the fruits of his activities can never live in the Holy Dhama."

Hearing the instructions of Babaji Maharaja, the doctor inquired, "Therefore,
what should I do?" Srila Gaurakisora replied, "If you actually want the result
of residing in the Holy Dhama, then you should first give up all relationships
with the idea you are entertaining. Abandon this misconception of benefitting
materialistic persons by distributing free medical treatment. Those who are
resolute in performing worship unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, will never
discharge any activities unfavorable to the Supreme Lord, and they will only
perform favorable activities. Other then this, all activities performed will be
the cause of deep conditioning. If you want to support yourself in the way you
have planned, then you should return to your own residence outside the Holy
Dhama, but do not live within the Supreme Abode of the Absolute Truth, Sri
Krsna, and deceptively maintain your livelihood."


The New Babaji
--------------

A new practitioner who had taken the dress of babaji would ofter come and
converse with Srila Gaurakisora. Once his decided he would become a resident of
the Holy Dhama. In Kulia he approached the estate of a landowner (who was at
that time a queen) to purchase three-quarters of an acre of land. Upon hearing
this, Srila Gaurakisora commented, "The Supreme Abode of the Lord is
transcendental. How is it that this queen has become a landowner of the Holy
Dhama? How is it that this person is entitled to sell that new Baba a portion
of the land of the Holy Dhama? Even all the jewels found within the universe
are not valuable enough to buy even one spec of dust of the Holy Dhama.
Therefore, how can any landowner amass enough wealth to become the owner of a
plot of the transcendental abode of Sri Navadvipa Dhama? Has this new Baba, for
the exchange of the practice of devotional service, become entitled to a
portion of land in Navadvipa Dhama? Anyone who has such materially tinged
intelligence is very offensive and far away from actually residing within the
Holy Dhama. Those persons whose attitude is tinged with such material
intelligence, thinking the Holy Dhama is of material nature, are considered by
the devotees of the Supreme Lord to be sahajiyas or cheap imposters."


Deception and Devotional Service
--------------------------------

One day a resident of Bangladesh who was a very wealthy landlord, a scholar, a
brahmana, and a famous great devotee of the Lord came along with his friend to
see Srila Gaurakisora. The landowner was so deeply absorbed in devotional
ecstacies that his friend had to assist him by holding his hand when he walked.
His friend would hold the shoulder of the wealthy landowner because his body
was trembling so much. When the two arrived before Srila Gaurakisora, two other
persons present immediately recognized the wealthy landowner and received him
as an advanced devotee of the Lord. They very carefully offered their
obeisances to him and arranged a seating place, praying to him to pleased be
seated. At that time Srila Gaurakisora, enacting his pastime of a blind person,
said, "Who has come?" The friend of the landowner introduced his companion by
glorifying the landowner's eruditon, devotion, and detachment from material
sense gratification although he possessed unlimited wealth. He then described
how, just one fortnight before, a thief had come and stolen forty-five thousand
Rupees from the landowner's house. Although suffering such a setback, the
landowner, knowing devotion to be the main attachment, had come to obtain Srila
Gaurakisora's transcendental darsan. The friend added, "I am his friend. He has
left all material sense gratification and keeps only my association. You will
be able to realize his greatness by conversing with him. He once asked me a
question about a confidential exchange between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri
Ramananda Raya from the Caitanya Caritamrta. I told him that only Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji could properly answer his question and certainly no one else. We
have already been to see many learned persons in this area and yet we cannot
come to an agreement about the meaning of this conversation. We think that only
you are able to explain it properly."

After the friend of the great devotee completed his introduction, Srila
Gaurakisora replied, "I will tell you a process by which you can understand the
conclusion of this conversaton. But before trying to understand these
confidential topics between Lord Caitanya and Ramananda Raya, you should
renounce the association of this other rascal imposter and take shelter of a
pure devotee of the Lord. You should hear the Caitanya Caritamrta one hundred
times in the association of real devotees of the Lord. In this way, being
absorbed in devotional ecstasy, you will be able to realize the purport of these
conversations. At the present moment all the devotees here want to perform
congregational chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord. We don't have time to
discuss any other topics." Then Srila Gaurakisora very loudly requested
everyone to perform Hari Nama Sankirtana. Everyone then began to
congregationally chant the Lord's Holy Name. After hearing the statement by
Srila Gaurakisora, the proud landowner and his friend immediately left that
place. Later in the evening, when almost everyone had left, some persons told
Srila Gaurakisora, "That very learned landowner was absorbed in devotional
ecstasy. We could not see any manifestation of material consciousness in him.
He was devoid of any worldly consciousness." Another person sitting nearby, who
had always heard that Srila Gaurakisora was very open with everyone, said,
"That person was so immersed in various loving devotional ecstasies that he
could not even walk by his own efforts. How is it that you can say he was not
on the highest level of bhava bhakti?"

Gaurakisora dasa Babaji then replied, "After speaking with him a few moments, I
could understand that he had no good intentions in his performance of
devotional service. One cannot measure the amount of devotion a person
possesses by the approval of the general people. If a person is not serious in
his devotional practice, then even if he has the symptoms of renunciation,
detachment, and many ecstasies, still he should not be considered to have real
renunciation or detachment. As soon as a difficult test comes, then that false
renunciation will cease. Detachment searches out the shelter of those who are
actually fixed in their intentions for devotional service. In our practical
devotional service, we should never show anyone our devotional ecstasies. One
should perform devotional service in such a way that his deep attachment to the
Lord will increase within his heart. Even if one displays hundreds and hundreds
of exhibitions of external attachment, he will not be blessed by the Lord if he
does not develop an internal loving attachment. If there is actually a deep
loving attitude, then Krsna Himself will approach and overtake the advanced
devotee. Whoever is not enticed by the fragrance of unflinching devotional
service and whose heart is filled with material desires will wear different
types of external bodily dress. Krsna is proportionately aloof or available to
the degree of one's surrender. If one is deeply immersed in devotional
attachment to Lord Hari, then even while suffering distressing diseases or
other material miseries, still he will remain absorbed in transcendental loving
service to the Lord. If you can fast and chant Hare Krsna both day and night,
and when you can always cry out in desire for the service of Vrsabhanu
Radharani, without displaying this to others, then Sri Krsna, who is very dear
to Srimati Radharani, will call out for you to take his shelter."


The Grains of the Materialist
-----------------------------

A lawyer came to visit Srila Gaurakisora. He was living in the nearby vicinity
and had contracted a certain Goswami on a monthly basis to arrange for his
food. When the lawyer, Bhattacarya, approached Srila Gaurakisora, he was asked,
"What arrangements do you have for your foodstuffs?" The lawyer replied, "I
have arranged to receive my foodstuffs in the house of certain Vaisnavas and
brahmanas." Srila Gaurakisora answered, "Give up eating their cooked rice. You
should cook yourself and accept that. Those persons from whom you are accepting
food grains eat meat and maintain their service to Lord Caitanya by various
deceptive ways. Their activity is most offensive because they are in knowledge
of what they are doing. Those persons who have no fear of offenses that they
may perform to the Supreme Lord should never be spoken to. Otherwise, one's
devotional sevice will be destroyed."

After sometime the lawyer brought several sweets and offered them to Srila
Gaurakisora. He especially prayed to Srila Gaurakisora to accept his sweet
offering. Srila Gaurakisora then told him, "Never accept sweetmeats." Then
Bhattacarya replied, "There is nothing higher than accepting food that the Lord
has directly accepted." Babaji Maharaja said, "Whoever eats fish is like a
prostitute. If someone has perverted desires and offers foodstuffs unto Lord
Caitanya, those preparations can never be accepted as the prasada of the
Supreme Lord because the Lord does not partake of them. Whoever is not actually
a sincere devotee of the Lord cannot understand what a nondevotee is. Even if
one offers foodstuffs to the Supreme Lord, if one has perverted intentions then
the offering is never accepted. If one offers the covering of the banana
flowers because he himself likes its taste, the offering is not accepted by the
Supreme Lord. Offering foodstuffs to the Supreme Lord that have been
contaminated by one's lusty desires should be considered a great offense. If
preparations favored by the great devotees of the Lord are offered, then the
offering is considered proper. Krsna tastes foodstuffs that have been tasted by
the lips of His pure devotees. If one accepts the grains of a sinful person,
then his mind becomes impure. One should think, 'My worship to the Lord has not
fructified yet--how can I obtain the service of a pure devotee of the Lord?' In
this way, with heart full of grief, if one takes banana peels and the discarded
skin of an eggplant and boils them without salt, this attitude of full
surrender will cause those foodstuffs to become mahaprasada. 'My worship to the
Lord has not yet come about.' one should think. 'The pure devotee of the Lord
accepts nice foodstuffs, but my doing so would only impede my devotion. What
will happen to me if I continue eating nicely and wearing nice clothes?"


The Love of Srila Gaura Kisora for Sri Mayapura Dhama
-----------------------------------------------------

Within the pure character of Srila Gaurakisora one can see his unmatching
incompatibility towards anything opposing the real conclusions of bhakti. If
one does not follow the example of the followers of Srila Gaurakisora, who are
fully blessed by him and who always engage in glorifying the Lord, then one will
not be able to understands Srila Gaurakisora's spiritual nature, which is above
all mundane thought. Furthermore, to grasp his instructions and example will not
be possible. To some persons who came to him hundreds of times he would give no
blessing, whereas to others he would bestow his mercy at random.

One day a householder devotee went to obtain the association of Srila
Gaurakisora. Babaji Maharaja was seated in a chair made of grass just within
the door of his kuthir. When the grhastha devotee approached him, Srila
Gaurakisora very nonchalantly closed the door. From outside the kuthir the
devotee informed Srila Gaurakisora that he wanted to see him. Srila Babaji
Maharaja replied, "If you want to have my darsan then you must give me two
rupees." A servant who resided nearby collected the money from the grhastha and
indicated to Srila Gaurakisora that the visitor had given the two rupees.
Babaji Maharaja then opened the door fo the kuthir and said, "Please have a
look." The grhastha remained some distance from the kuthir and offered
obeisances. But by his own sweet voice, Srila Gaurakisora allured him closer,
took his hands within his hands and said, "You have come upon the place where
my Supreme Master, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu has sent you here so therefore I have a few topics to discuss. Sri
Caitanya will certainly listen to this. You should take shelter of Krsna by
always chanting the name of Krsna, then in your life there will be no more
obstructions."

Whenever Srila Gaurakisora would see the residents of the Holy Dhama, he would
always very affectionately say, "The residents of the Holy Dhama." Even if
someone tried to offer great wealth, he would be indifferent. But then again it
would be seen that he would request different persons to help him in his
service to the Lord's devotees. He never accepted anything for himself, but
only received things for the devotees of the Lord.


Displaying Ecstatic Symptoms
----------------------------

Another day Srila Gaurakisora was sitting in his bhajana kuthir in Sri
Navadvipa Dhama, chanting Hare Krsna very loudly. Other persons who had
assembled there were also chanting. At this time, one person came and began to
display different emotional symptoms, such as crying. Some devotees began to
think that that person had attained the highest stage of devotional ecstasy by
chanting the glories of the Lord. Srila Gaurakisora immediately requested that
person to leave. Some of the persons assembled there became disturbed at seeing
this and also left. Srila Gaurakisora then said, "One who has actually attained
love of Godhead will never display the symptoms, but will always keep them
hidden from the general people, just as a chaste wife becomes very embarrassed
when she has to show any part of her body and thus keeps her body very
thoroughly covered. In the same way, when one has real devotion unto the
Supreme Lord and becomes elevated to love of Godhead, he always feels
embarrassed to exhibit the symptoms of ecstasy and thus always keeps such
symptoms unmanifest."


The Disturbing Explanation of the Devotee
-----------------------------------------

Srila Gaurakisora would always give beneficial instructions to all living
entities who were faithful. One day a person coming to Srila Gaurakisora to
hear topics of the Supreme Lord heard him speaking harshly. This person
therefore decided never to come near Srila Gaurakisora anymore. After some
time, that same person suddenly went to see Srila Gaurakisora again. He was
stricken with a distressed and troubled mind. Babaji Maharaja, realizing this,
told him, "Oh, you have left the association of the devotees, where topics of
the Supreme Lord are discussed, and now you are living in a solitary place,
carrying on your own worship. When one hears the topics of the Supreme Lord in
the proper association of the devotees of the Lord, then one can become free
from maya's net of illusion. But if one performs worship of the Lord in a
solitary place, not in association of devotees, then one becomes caught by the
illusory energy. Consequently, instead of topics about the Supreme Lord
possessing the heart, materialistic subject matters will occupy it."

The person explained to Srila Gaurakisora, "I thought it better to reside in a
solitary place and perform my own individual worship then to become disturbed
at heart by hearing another holy person's sharp words." Srila Gaurakisora
replied, "Please notice that those devotees who speak sharp words to drive away
the witch of illusory energy are actually the only real devotees and the
friends of the living entities. The conditioned living entity hears the
distressful quarrels of his wife and close relations until death, yet he never
desires to leave their association. To the contrary, he absorbs himself in ways
to please them by his service. But when a devotee of the Lord who is always
desirous of the living entity's ultimate welfare speaks just one instruction to
drive away Maya, then the conditioned entity immediately makes plans to leave
that person for his entire life. If you actually want to perform proper
devotional service, then you must accept the harsh language as the medicine by
which Maya can be given up. Then one can obtain the necessary spiritual
advancement and accept the chanting of the Holy Name."


The Householder Vow
-------------------

One newly married devotee and his wife once came to pray for the mercy of Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. Srila Babaji Maharaja said to the husband, "If you
actually want to perform devotional service then you must live separately from
your wife and thus, not depending on one another, chant the glories of the
Lord." After hearing the instructions the newly-wed man did as he was
instructed. A few days past, and the devotee came again to Srila Gaurakisora,
who asked, "Are you and your wife taking your foodstuffs together or
separately?" The husband told him, "We are living separately and carrying on
our worship as you instructed, but we take our foodstuffs together." Srila
Gaurakisora then asked him, "What foodstuffs did you have today?" And the newly
wed answered, "We had very nice vegetables, the best dahl, and fried eggplant."
Babaji Maharaja explained, "If you only give up the external connection with
your wife, that is not enough, because you are associating with her from
within. You have not been able to give up the finest foodstuffs prepared by
your wife, so how will you be able to perform worship of the Lord? Your wife is
communicating with you through the medium of what she has prepared. Shame,
shame. Even though you are acting as if you are chanting the Lord's Holy Name,
still you are desiring the stems of the finest vegetables. Do you think that
after a person suffers a loss of one lac of rupees, he will be satisfied
accepting only a handful of rice? Although he may gradually become accustomed
to accepting the rice as a daily practice, still he will always think about the
money he lost. And even if you give this person the nicest foodstuffs, because
he is always in anxiety about what he has lost, he will not forget his desire.
So you have lost that which in invaluable--your devotional service to the
Supreme Lord. Thus how can you become absorbed in eating such nice foodstuffs?
As for you wife, externally you are disassociated from her, yet you are
maintaining attachment from within."


Renunciation for Krsna's Pleasure and False Renunciation
--------------------------------------------------------

A grhastha present during Srila Gaurakisora's conversation with the newly-wed
husband asked Babaji Maharaja, "We see that there are many Vaisnavas living
together with their wives who perform service unto the Supreme Lord. Will there
be any benefit for these devotees?" Srila Gaurakisora replied, "The living
entity is the eternal servant of the Supreme Lord, but in the conditioned state
one cannot recognize this; one can only recognize the form of his wife and
offspring. If this is the case, then these persons' realizations are in
connection only with the material world. If one does not have eyes to see
through the medium of devotional service, one can never realize his real
identity as eternal servant of Lord Krsna. The inclination to enjoy
materialistically is always present when one associates with his sons and wife.
At the present time, the living entities do not heat the topics of the Supreme
Lord, or take the association of the Lord's devotees. If one does not attain
the spiritual energy given by the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord, then
one will become attracted by his wife and offspring.

"Then again, some persons, like false renounced monkeys, act as if they are not
attached to their wives and offspring. Those who are renounced like the monkey
are only displaying a type of play. An actual Vaisnava will never enjoy sense
gratification in any way whatsoever with his wife. He will always be in contact
with the instructions of the Lord and the bonafide guru. Those actually
desirous of performing devotional service but who are unable because of
excessive attachment to wife and son should also come and hear from the great
devotees, chant Hare Krsna, and perform congregational chanting. In this way,
they can also become, after a very short time, unattached to family. They will
gradually realize that if one completely surrenders to the Supreme Lord, then
one will attain all auspiciousness. As long as one is in bodily consciousness,
one cannot obtain the mercy of Lord Krsna. The extension of bodily
consciousness is seen in the affection displayed for one's wife and offspring.
Someone who leaves the association of his wife because of being thoroughly
distressed in mind and who seeks happiness for his own mind and body is not
actually a real renunciate. Renunciation has a required distinction of
connection to the service of the Lord. A real renunicate accepts whatever is
favorable for the Lord's satisfaction and rejects whatever is unfavorable."


That is the Highest Happiness
-----------------------------

Once a person saw a devotee of Srila Gaurakisora begging in the hot summer sun
at noon, during the month of Caitra. Approaching Srila Gaurakisora, that person
asked him, "Why is your servant begging in the hot sun? Everyone begs in the
morning and they return to their residence." Srila Gaura kisora told him.
"Srila Bhaktivinode instructs his followers:

tomara sevaya duhkha haya yato se o ta' parama sukha seva-sukha-duhkha parama
sampada, nasaye avidyadub kha

'Whatever amount of distress comes about in devotional service, that is all the
reason for your happiness.'

Srila Gaurakisora gave this instruction to those who desiring their real
benefit, always take shelter of the Supreme Master, Sri Krsna, and the devotees
of the Lord. One must tolerate the distress that comes in one's practice of
devotional service. In this way, the dualistic suffering appearing in the form
of happiness and distress will diminish. Whoever comes to serve the Lord to
achieve a comfortable situation never becomes free from the hand of ignorance.
Rather, he becomes engaged with different types of impediments in the Lord's
service.


The Different Forms of Maya
---------------------------

Once during the rainy season, Srila Gaurakisora was sitting on a seat on the
balcony of a dharmashalla where he resided. Prasada--rice with a dab of banana
flower vegetable on top--was given to him. While he was honoring the prasad, a
poisonous snake came up on the veranda and nearing the plate, took note of its
aroma and then slid back onto the ground. Seeing the snake, an old woman come
running, yelling, "A snake has bitten Babaji Maharaja!" Srila Gaurakisora, who
was blind, beat his hand upon the ground, and the snake quickly left. He then
asked, "Where is the snake? Where is the snake?" The woman exclaimed, "Babaji
Maharaja, have you gone mad? That snake could have bitten you. He passed just
next to your right hand. If your hand had been extended a little more to the
side then you would have been bitten. We are not going to let you stay here
anymore." Babaji Maharaja responded, "Please don't stand here any longer. You
are inconveniencing yourself by standing so long." But the woman refused to go,
saying, "As long as you do not go into your room, I will remain here." Srila
Gaurakisora said, "I am going to accept prasada now. First, I will take prasada,
then I will go to my room." Still the old woman continued to admonish him.
"That prasada you are going to take might have been touched by the lips of the
snake" she said. "You cannot accept it because if it is poisonous, you will
die." Then Srila Gaurakisora remarked, "I only accept prasada that has been
offered to the Deity or prasada that has been obtained by begging, and not
otherwise." Turning to a nearby servant, the old woman instructed, "Will you
please go and arrange more rice for Babaji Maharaja." But Srila Gaura Kisora
told her, "My dear mother, if you do not leave now, I will not listen to
anything else that you say." Feeling discarded, the woman left. After some
time, Srila Babaji Maharaja asked a nearby person, "Has she left yet?" When he
knew that she had left, he told the servant, "Did you see that, how Maya is
acting? Just see how Maya, the illusory energy, tries to gradually enter, using
her different deceptive ways. Maya takes on different forms and she knows many
different ways to trick the living entity. She never lets the living entity
serve the Supreme Lord." Then Srila Gaurakisora began to sing the following
song:

gora panhu ha bhajiya moinu  premaratana shana he laya harainu

adhane yatana kori' dhana teyaginu  apana karama dose apani dubinu

sat sanga chadi koinu asate vilasa  te-karane lagilo ye karmabandha-phanasa

visama visaya-visa satata khainu  gaura kirtanarase magana na hainu

keno va achaye prana ki sukha lagiya  narottamera dasa keno na gelo mariya

Translation

"Not having worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga, I have met only death. I
have lost the jewel of love of Godhead due to my own negligence. I have only
given attention to that which is not real wealth and abandoned that which has
actual value. I have stuck within the material world by the reactions of my own
karma. Having left real association, I am performing materialistic activities.
I have thus become conditioned by the grasp of past karma. I have eaten the
poison of material sense gratification over and over again. For this reason I
have not become absorbed in the nectar of the congregational chanting of Lord
Hari. Why do I remain alive? What is my happiness? Why hasn't Narottama dasa
given up his life?"

The stanzas above were composed by Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami. This song was
sung by Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji when he entered into Sri Svananda Kunja
in Godrumadvip, where he met his only disciple, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura. It appears above as it was discovered later by his disciples in
Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura's own handwriting.


Srila Gaurakisora and the Supersoul
-----------------------------------

One night at about ten o'clock, Srila Gaurakisora suddenly woke up, shouting,
"Did you see that? Did you see that? One person who delivers lectures has gone
to the district of Pavana and had illict sex with a widow there. Shame! Shame!
These different kinds of low persons have brought about scandals in the name of
religion." Srila Babaji Maharaja spoke as if he were directly speaking to the
person and witnessing his mischievous activities. Revealing more, Srila
Gaurakisora said, "Caitanya Mahaprabhu has made me realize the truth about this
so-called scholar, who travels from place to place establishing himself as very
learned. In the name of Srimad Bhagavatam class he collects money to support
himself. The ordinary people do not know his real nature. He always keeps one
widow with him. When anyone asks him if she is his wife, he says yes. The money
the scholar earns is used to purchase braclets, oils, and so forth for her. Is
there anyone more of an offender and a hypocrite than this person?"


General Instructions
--------------------

One day Srila Gaurakisora wrapped his body and two feet with a cloth. Sitting
covered like this he said, "Many persons, after being informed by others, come
here to colect the dust from my feet. I tell them I am not a Vaisnava. If you
go to the vicinity where there are Vaisnavas with their feet pretentiously
decorated and extended to be touched, then you can get unlimited dust."

During this time, a person named Bhattacarya came from Vrndavana with his
female companion to see Srila Gaurakisora. Approaching Babaji Maharaja, he
said, "You are my spiritual master. Please be merciful unto me." Srila
Gaurakisora replied, "I have no rasagullas, sandesh, luci, puris, money, sweet
rice, or sweet words. How can I bless you? Those spiritual masters who can feed
their disciples many sweets are praised as the most advanced. Nowadays these
people are entitled to become spiritual masters. At present, learned persons
define the word anakula (favorable) as receiving wealth, a beautiful wife, and
sweet words." Bhattacarya then remarked, "Our minds are possessed with
different kinds of misconceptions. So whatever you instruct, that we will do!
Srila Gaurakisora replied, "I can see what is most favorable for you. You
should eat rice that has been soaked in water and sit on a grass seat. You
should eat food that not even a dog would accept. You should wear clothes that
even a thief would hate to wear. You must remain in the association of devotees
and always chant the Holy Name of the Lord. By imitating the activities of one
who is very renounced, one resembles a monkey. Monkeys sit in one place and
remain quiet. But when they get the opportunity, they take something. As long
as one acts in this same way, as a monkey, then his devotional service will
never become fixed."


Astakala Lila
-------------

A person known as a goswami approached Srila Gaurakisora to learn the most
intimate pastimes of the Lord called Astakala Lila so that he could
systematically worship the Lord at given periods during the day. The first time
he came, Srila Gaurakisora told him, "Right now I do not have any leisure time.
When I find the opportunity I will explain it to you." As many times as the
so-called goswami would come, he would receive the same answer. Finally, the
goswami became disturbed and stopped coming. Srila Gaurakisora said to himself,
"Any person who becomes distressed about losing a useless coin cannot possibly
learn the most intimate pastimes of the Lord. Just by reading a book,
realization is not possible. One can theoretically understand, but where will
one's spiritual body come from? Revealing the Lord's pastimes in ordinary books
has caused turmoil in the material world. Everyone is building a high wooden
platform, two stories high. Then, after climbing to the top of that platform,
they simply pass stool. So many different persons come to see me, but they are
all deceptive. Before one can learn about the most intimate pastimes of the
Lord, one must give up all bad asociation and in the association of devotees
continuously chant the Holy Name of the Lord. If one wants to worship the Lord
according to his own whim in a solitary place, then one becomes caught by the
illusory energy. The form, name, and pastimes of the Lord manifest within the
association of devoteess. Whoever does not have full faith in the chanting of
the Holy Name creates an inauspicious situation for himself. Such persons
worship the Lord without proper inteligence."


Householder Life and Goloka Vrndavana
-------------------------------------

Srila Gaurakisora once said, "If one remains in contact with stool, then
worship of the Supreme Lord will not be possible." After making this remark, he
saw that the persons with him could not understand exactly what he meant. So he
explained, "Those persons who remain in household life are always instructing,
'Eat, eat.' Thus they make their residence the place of lust. This may be fit
for the demigods but not for the devotees of the Lord. According to external
materialistic vision persons think that they are residing in the heavenly
planets, but actually they are living in a deep pond of stool in the form of
the sense objects in the material world. For whoever seriously worships the
Supreme Lord, taking full shelter of Him, wherever he resides will be the same
as Sri Radha Kunda."

Several days later, the landowner of the dharmashalla in Navadvip by the name
Giris Babu, once came to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji with his wife. The wife of
Giris Babu very seriously asked Srila Gaurakisora, "Please instruct us as to
how we can construct a small kuthir so you can worship. You are remaining
throughout the rainy season and hot season with very litle shelter, thus, you
are suffering very greatly. We have felt this within our hearts."

Gaurakisora das Babaji Maharaja then replied, "I am feeling no anxiety
whatsoever residing in my small hut. I have one trouble, if the both of you
could just tolerate hearing it. Many persons come to me and very deceptively
ask again and again 'krpa koro, krpa koro' (bestow your mercy upon me) and
thus my worship is interrupted. They are not interested in their own real
benefit, but as a resuslt of coming, my worship is disturbed. If both of you
could just give me some of your stool herein this place where I perform my
worship unto the Lord, that would be very favorable. I would be able to chant
Hare Krsna day and night. By depositing this stool, people would not like to
come here. If you don't do this, then many pople will come and waste my time
and thus, this human form of life."

Hearing this, the wife of Giris Babu said, "Oh Babaji Maharaja, that instruction
which you gave to us is certainly to be taken to heart, but if we pass stool
and offer it to you in the place where you perform worship, won't that result
in unlimited sinful reactions?"

Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja then said, "I am not a devotee. Those persons
who are the owners of large temples, and who wear long matted hair, are
actually devotees. I haven't received any result in the performance of my
devotion. So, therefore, the place where I reside is fit to receive your stool.
If just the both of you could just offer me your stool, then please speak up
because otherwise I have nothing to say to either of you."

Giris Babu and his wife agreed to his proposal and said, "Even though you won't
stay in the hut, still, if there are two huts then your servants can stay in
one of them." Following this, Giris Babu and his wife cleaned out the small
room of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and constructed another small room with the
help of carpenter. Srila Gaurakisora, after he realized what they had done
never would enter into the room which Giris Babu had built. Therefore,
Gaurakisora das Babaji, knowing the smell of stool in the form of false
prestige and the desire for women and wealth was stronger and longer lasting
than the smell of the stool where persons would go to use the bathroom at this
residence in this dharmashalla, he resided six months in the area where persons
that lived in the dharmashalla passed stool.

In that small hut where Gaurakisora dasa Babaji lived there was a door which
was very small so no one could very easily enter. Srila Gaurakisora would enter
into the hut and from the inside lock it with a latch. Just adjacent to the hut
was another kuthir which was somewhat in a decrepit condition. There was one
person who came there to live in that hut. He brought with him pieces of metal
tin from which he made a nice roof. In this way, he built a place of worship
imitating the activities of Srila Gaurakisora. One day Babaji Maharaja asked
him, "What do you do all day when you sit alone in your solitary small hut?
What do you think about? If you do not spend your time in a unoffensive way
taking association of devotees and chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, then as
you sit in you room you will only able to see the fence outside. Is this what
you see as you're sitting inside the room, or what are you thinking of? Women?
Self prestige and accumulated wealth? If you stay in this place then many
different types of havoc will come about."

Srila Gaurakisora who was in direct contact with Supersoul within his heart was
able to very exactly show the deceptiveness in that person. Many people would
often come and tell Babaji Maharaja that the person who was imitating him would
collect different articles in the name of his service unto the Lord, and that
sometimes in Navadvip he would have illicit sex with different persons.

Finally, Srila Gaurakisora became very upset with him and told one person who
was related to him who had come there, that this person had become situated in
the kingdom of Maya. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja then showed him
that a person who imitates the guru, the spiritual master, and the great
devotees of the Lord will, as a result of his offensive activities, sink into
the mud of Maya.

Srila Gaurakisora points out how it is that those persons who are opposed to
proper religious activities live within stool--within the deep hole of material
existence. He gave these instructions to show that wherever a person who is
very dear to Radharani lives, that place is the same as Radha Kunda.

                                  
In Touch With a Paid Scholar
----------------------------

There was one brahmacari by the name of Ayatra who came to Gaurakisora to
perform devotional service. Srila Gaurakisora told him, "You should take proper
association and you should give up offenses unto the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas
of the Lord."

That brahmacari, upon hearing this, did not take it with the proper taste. That
particular brahmacari did not tell Babaji Maharaja that he was going to
Radhadesa. When he left, and was residing there by collecting wealth by giving
discourses on the Srimad Bhagavatam, he would identify himself as being a
disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja.

After returning from Radhadesa, he came to learn Sanskrit grammar from one
particular scholar who lived in Navadvipa. The brahmacari thought that if he
learned Sanskrit grammar then he would become respected by all persons. He also
began to think that since Babaji Maharaja did not know how to read or write
that he would be situated above him.

One day the brahmacari came to Srila Gaurakisora whereupon Srila Babaji
Maharaja said to him, "Are you reading Sanskrit grammar to obtain wealth,
women, and prestige?"

The brahmacari then answered, "I don't have any type of bad intention such as
that. I'm simply reading it so that I may understand Srimad Bhagavatam."

Srila Gaurakisora then answered him, "You have seen how the persons in the
place of Radhadesa earn their living by professionally reciting Srimad
Bhagavatam and thus you have become greedy for this. You should give up the
association of those who are not favorable and simply take to the chanting of
Hare Krsna with devotees of the Lord."

The brahmacari did not listen to the instructions of Gaurakisora das Babaji.
Some days following this the brahmacari came to Sri Gaurakisora and asked him,
"Please be merciful unto me."

Srila Gaurakisora das Babaji, remaining quiet for some time, then said, "You
mean you still haven't given up that desire which you had before?"

Hearing this, the brahmacari could not exactly understand what he meant. The
brahmacari then left and after this many people approached Srila Gaurakisora
and informed him that that brahmacari had had illicit connection with one
widow. Srila Babaji Maharaja then told the persons who had come to him to tell
the brahmacari the following instructions: "One should never bring others into
the field of his sinful activities."

Srila Gaurakisora then made them understand that a person who approaches another
person's wife is very sinful and that improper activity and deceitfulness in
the outward dress of a devotee can not be compared to be less serious than any
sin. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Srila
Gaurakisora das Babaji show in their character that their speciality was that
they in no way whatsoever performed any type of deceitful activity.


The Devotee and the Hypocrite
-----------------------------

There was one person who lived near Babaji Maharaja for some time. For this
reason, many people also had a devotional relationship with him. This person
had previously resided in Orissa. Once the father of that particular person
came to Navadvipa. In the hand of the father there was the book Srimad
Bhagavatam which he would carry with him from one place to another. He would
show that to different learned persons, an in this way, try to understand its
meaning.

Many persons would give this person who lived near Srila Gaurakisora money for
Babaji Maharaja's service. Now and then this person would take this money and,
hiding it, would give it to his father to help him because he was so poor.
Srila Gaurakisora who was in contact with Supersoul knew that this activity was
going on. Eventually, he told that peon to no longer carry on those
activities.

Previously, that person would cook the rice of Srila Gaurakisora. From that time
on, Srila Gaurakisora would never accept anything whatsoever from the hands of
that person. Again, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji would just take cracked rice and
place it in the water of the Ganga, would let it become soft and would thus
accept it. Many persons including the aforementioned servant, seeing this,
became very disturbed and afraid.

When Srila Gaurakisora heard that others were becoming disturbed, he said, "If
that person who has been living in my vicinity does not leave immediately from
this place, then I will give my life up in the Ganges River."

Shortly thereafter, Srila Gaurakisora was going next to the bank of the Ganges
River and he threw himself in. At that time, many persons came to rescue him
from the water. Srila Babaji Maharaja began to yell very loudly, "Leave me
alone! Leave me alone! Because I have not been able to perform worship unto the
Supreme Lord properly, I'm not going to keep this body any longer."

Many persons immediately grouped together and were able to fetch Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji from the river and bring him up onto the bank. After Babaji
Maharaja had come to his normal senses, he said, "Why did all of you bring me
up from the waters of the Ganga? That person who is living with me has given
everything which I have to his father."

Then everyone said, "As much money as is necessary for you, we will bring
that."

Then that person who lived next to him said, "As much money as was wasted by
me, I will bring four times that amount to you right now."

Srila Babaji Maharaja then said, "Wealth is not important to me. It is just
that I do not want any person such as the one before to live in my association
because by the associaton of those who are deceitful one's worship unto the
Supreme Lord is not possible."

Many persons began to understand that Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja had
thrown himself into the Ganga because of his attachment to his money. But now,
they could understand that Srila Gaurakisora was not simply a beggar of wealth.
He would never in any way whatsoever tolerate a person who was deceitful in
devotional service. One cannot become a Vaisnava by becoming very deceitful.
One has to remain very simple in his activities.


The Enjoyment of Wealth by the Materialist
------------------------------------------

Once Srila Gaurakisora gave Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja one
hundred rupees. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, in order to keep the money safe, put it
into the bank. He then went travelling in another place.

One day Srila Babaji Maharaja approached Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and asked
him if he could have that one hundred rupees? Bhaktivinode Thakura then said,
"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had put that money in the bank. As long as he does not
come, it will not be possible to take it out."

Even though Bhaktivinode Thakura told this to Srila Gaurakisora, he could
understand that it was necessary, that he needed the money. Srila Bhaktivinode
Thakura then from his own private fund gave Srila Gaurakisora the one hundred
rupees. Srila Babaji Maharaja then gave that money to one person whom he knew
very well and sent him to Vrndavana. Then Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji said, "Many
persons have come thinking I am a Vaisnava and therefore given me large amounts
of wealth. But actually, I am not a Vaisnava. I have heard that there are
actually real Vaisnavas in Vrndavana. So, therefore, I am sending the money for
their service."

Srila Babaji Maharaja, whenever he would receive any donations from persons who
considered him to be a Vaisnava, would never use that for his own sense
gratification but would always give it for the service of other Vaisnavas.
Srila Gaurakisora would often say, "One who maintains himself by begging
becomes pure. One should only take that which is necessary to maintain his
personal worship and everything else which is accepted other than that will
cause the mind to became infected and cause different impediments on the path
of devotional service."


The Desire of Attaining Wealth
------------------------------

One day, in the place of Kulia in Navadvip Dhama, one particular Goswami came
with several other persons who were dressed as Vaisnavas. Coming to Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji, they said, "Oh, Baba. For many days we have not been able to have
your association."

Then he said to Babaji Maharaja, "It is a long time since I have had your
association, but I have gone to a foreign country."

Babaji Maharaja then said, "Why have you gone to a foreign country? If you stay
here, there will be no impediments, so why is it that you have gone to a
foreign country to take that type of association?"

Then one associate of the Goswami added, "He has gone to other foreign
countries in order to deliver the people. If he doesn't go to other places then
how is it that they will be able to understand the supreme goal of life?"

Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja became very disturbed and said, "If you want to
actually uplift other countries then why do you accept the money from
foreigners? I have unerstood your intention. You are simply wanting a very nice
brick house to live in. But, if you actually want to perform simple service
unto the Supreme Lord, then you should replace the understanding that you are
the master and thus, Nityananda Prabhu will certainly bless you. I will tell
Him myself that you want fifty brick houses, but if you simply want a nice
brick house as a place in which to enjoy your wife and son then, Nityananda
Prabhu, fulfilling all those different materialistic desires, will cancel the
possibility of your obtaining love of Godhead. If you simply just act as if you
want to deliver the other persons but are afflicted with prestige and
self-aggrandizement, you will become fallen in this material world."

Saying this, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja began to perform kirtan
very loudly. In this way, he performed kirtan until night. Srila Babaji
Maharaja then made it very, very evident that if one becomes offensive unto the
name of Lord Krsna or becomes offensive in one's service, then one simply gets
the result of religious activities, accumulation of wealth, and fulfillment of
lusty desires. This is the most severe form of degraded misfortune.

Sri Nityananda Prabhu in the form of our guru fulfills the desires of those who
are deceitful.


Gauranga! Gauranga! or Money! Money!
------------------------------------

At one time, one particular Goswami who was expert in explaining the Srimad
Bhagavatam, began to explain to Srila Gaurakisora the glories of his offspring.
He told him that they always chanted "Gaur, Gaur" and that being immersed in
devotional service that they attracted many disciples.

Then Gaurakisora mentioned to some persons who were gathered there after the
Goswami left as follows: "That so-called Goswami who just came, does not chant
'Gaur, Gaur,' but 'Taka, Taka' (money, money). If one in this way performs
devotional servide, only yelling very loudly for wealth, then it is not
possible for his devotional service to take place. This is the actual reason
Vaisnava practice has been covered. This will only cause harm in this material
world and thus, no one will ever be benefitted.


Enjoying the Results of One's Sinful Activities
-----------------------------------------------

Once there was one very young person who came up to Srila Gaurakisora and
revealed to him that he wanted to perform worship unto the Supreme Lord.
Hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora said, "If you want to perform real devotional
service, then you should give up the asociation of ordinary people in general
and non-Vaisnavas, and live in the association of our devotees."

"We maintain ourselves by the discarded cloth and by the discarded articles
which have been used by the residents of the Holy Dhama. If you mix with other
so-called Vaisnavas, then maybe your intelligence will be contaminated.
Following this, he replied, "I will follow these instructions which you have
given me."

But after some time this person began to become enamored by his own voice when
he was singing with Srila Gaurakisora. After singing in kirtan with Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, he was taking prasadam with the devotees there. In
this way he took with the devotees. The following afternoon, he took a pair of
karatalas and went to take bath at the Ganga. Going to the Ganga, he began to
sing kirtana very very loudly so that Babaji Maharaja could hear him. And, he
also began to recite different Vaisnava prayers.

One day after that particular devotee had gone out to beg alms for the day,
Srila Babaji Maharaja called one resident devotee over and said, "This person
who is staying here is hiding and going to his own house and from there he is
picking up many misconceptions about devotional service. Then coming back here
he tries to implement them here. Actually, instead of performing devotional
service, he is simply performing offenses."

Hearing this, one person said to Srila Gaura Kisora, "Who told you that he has
been doing this?"

Srila Babaji Maharaja then said, "I heard the way in which he was singing
kirtan and the way in which he pronounced it. In this way I could understand
that we cannot let him stay here because a person who has come in contact with
bad association and who has chanted in this association will only be able to
remember that and not the proper way. He will only be able to learn that which
is deceptive."

Shortly following this, that person very suddenly left to go to Jagannatha Puri
without telling Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaurakisora showed that he was unhappy
because of this. "That person he has run away because he has become very lusty
for the desire to eat nice foodstuffs. I could not save him. The living entity
is independent and must suffer according to the past results of his activities.
He came to me with the intention of pleasing Krsna, but hiding, he would take
the association of others and thus, he became situated in this most dangerous
condition. Now, he is accepting the traditional Vaisnava dress and decorating
himself with the name Vaisnava. In this way different types of persons in the
material world have begun to take the word and turn it into the word 'byen'
which means from. Offering one's obeisances to different persons, becoming
lusty for different types of nice foodstuffs, in this way people are being
known as Vaisnavas. Those people who carry out their worship and kirtan in such
a deceitful way are causing havoc in Vaisnava society. To the degree to which
this havoc spreads, to that degree the snake of time will grasp such frogs."

After about one month, that person came back form Jagannatha Puri again and
began to live in a nearby place. Once the owner of the place where he lived came
to Srila Gaurakisora, paid obeisances and said, "Your dearest disciple who has
just come from Jagannatha Puri is very fortunate indeed. He is serving Hari
dasa Thakura. He has just been serving Hari dasa Thakura and is now
performing his devotional service with very deep attachment."

Srila Babaji Maharaja then said, "How is it possible for him to be my disciple?
I have not accepted anyone as my disciple in this world. I could not even
become my own disciple. How is it possible for me to become the spiritual
master of another? If one is able to maintain frogs, is it possible to become a
Vaisnava? The attachment which a frog has is only for the purpose of his own
sense gratification. This person has become a victim of the snake of time. Is
it just from him which you have heard that he is serving Hari dasa Thakura? You
are in the position as a great estate holder and yet, you are wasting your
entire life. You should give up these activities which you are performing and
simply carry out pure devotional service."

The estate holder then said, "It is not my desire to become a great estate
holder. I simply want to see that the devotees are very nicely served and that
all of the bhajana kuthirs are very nicely kept. The different places of
solitary worship have all now become places of jungles. I have gone to those
places and cleaned the area."

Hearing this Srila Gaurakisora became very disturbed and would no longer carry
on a conversaton with him. After the estate holder left Gaurakisora dasa Babaji
said, "The trees in Navadvipa Dhama are all kalpa vrksa trees and this
hypocrite rascal has very cruely cut them. Now, he has come and told me this.
Shame! Shame! Just see, Just see. If one just cuts one limb from the trees in
Navadvipa Dhama I feel great distress. These different trees and vines in Sri
Navadvipa Dhama are my eternal friends and associates. They are part of the
pastimes of Lord Gauranga. After one's friends and associates have been killed,
is it possible for someone to come and cut their dead bodies to pieces? This
very cruel person will never be able to perform devotional service. He will
simply enact the role of a Vaisnava which will result in only his own
inauspiciousness and the inauspiciousness of others."


The Atonement for Having Illicit Sex
------------------------------------

Once one person came to Srila Gaurakisora and expressed the desire to live in
the same area in which he lived. At that time the persons in the dharmasalla
had given Babaji Maharaja the right to give permission to persons to live in
the adjacent small huts. No one could live in those without his permission.

Once, after receiving permission from Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, that
person began to live in the nearby kuthir. Srila Gaurakisora would many times
give him instruction that persons whoever wants to perform worship unto the
Supreme Lord should never associate with undesireable persons. A person who
thinks, "I will associate with improper persons and at the same time with
proper association, in other words, those who hide to take the association of
those who are unfavorable, they will become the victims of more and more
impediments in devotional service. Many, many people have come before me and I
have sen all of their deceptiveness. With great trouble I am tolerating this."

"If I can just always remain in proper association, in the performance of
sravana kirtana, then I will be able to protect myself and the Holy Name of the
Lord."

After hearing all of this, that person would go hide and associate with persons
who were unfavorable. Knowing this, gradually Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja
became disturbed.

After sometime, that person became very ill. Seeing that the person was in a
very distressed condition, Srila Gaurakisora out of his mercy sent one person
to attend him.

After two or three days one very young woman came there and began to ask where
he was. Srila Gaurakisora who was in direct contact with the Supersoul could
understand the situation and thus asked the person whom he'd sent to serve the
newcomer, "Are you serving that person whom I asked you to?"

His friend then said, "Oh yes, I am serving him alone and no one else." Srila
Gaurakisora in a low voice like that of thunder said, "There's no one else who
is serving him except you?"

Then the servant answered, "Actually, one woman comes."

Then Srila Babaji Maharaja said to him, "The next time that woman comes to see
him, then from that time you should never associate with him again."

Srila Babaji Maharaja then called for the person to come to him and said to
him, "If you want to stay here, then you have to give me fifteen rupees. If you
cannot give me fifteen rupees then there is no possibility for you to remain.
Because if you die while you are here, the arrangement to discard your body
will cost fifteen rupees."

After this Srila Babaji Maharaja began to speak to himself, "If I don't give
him a place to stay, then that woman will gradually take him away to her own
house. That is what he is desiring. And, in this way, he can very whimsically
perform his service."

Not long after this, the newcomer became even more ill and as a result left to
go to Vrndavana. Srila Gaurakisora showed no opposition whatsoever to that
person going to Vrndavana. At the place of Kusum Sarovar in Vrndavana the
so-called babaji began to live next to another person who also knew Srila
Gaurakisora. One day he approached his new companion and said, "I have accepted
the most highly renounced order of Vaisnavism and yet, I have had illicit sex
with another woman. What is the proper atonement I must undergo?"

The other person said, "The best thing for you to do is to give up your body.
Otherwise, you will not be following that which Mahaprabhu has arranged for such
offense."

He then agreed, and from Govardhan he took a certain amount of opium and
bringing it back to his hut, he ate it. After eating the opium, he went to the
person whom he had previously asked and told him he had taken the opium to kill
himself. After some time his body began to shake and he gave up his life.

Shortly after this, that person also became very ill. There was one so-called
Goswami who arrived in Vrndavana and treated him until he became better. After
he became better, then he returned to Navadvipa where he met with Babaji
Maharaja. When Babaji Maharaja saw him he said, "You cannot stay here. You must
find another place of residence because there are already two persons who are
very much opposed to me by their deceitful activities. Living here they render
service unto me and then outside, when mixing with the people in general, they
preach that they are very dear to me. I am not sure where they stay at night.
Once I called them in the dark of night. Again and again, very very loudly I
tried, yet, I received no answer whatsoever.

"The following day I called for them and I asked them why that was. Their only
excuse was that they had heard nothing." Not being favored by Srila
Gaurakisora, this babaji then left and went and took shelter at the house of
one woman nearby. Later one person came and told Gaurakisora about the
situation in which this person was living, that he lived in the house of a
young woman and accepting her service.

Becoming very angry, Srila Gaurakisora said, "Please don't mention these things
to me. There was also another person who lived in Kusum Sarovar with this person
and he had previously been rejected by me in Navadvipa. It has come to be known
that recently the friend of the deceased had returned back to Vrndavana during
the night and killed him. The rogues have cut his body into many pieces. There
were many things which he had in his possession which he had himself stolen and
hidden from the person I rejected. Therefore, for this reason the thieves have
come there and killed him."


The Offense of Imitating
------------------------

We can understand from the different examples given which describe the immortal
character of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, that those persons who
came to him with a deceiving attitude to serve that they received very terrible
reactions. A person who does not follow the instructions of a real pure devotee
of the Lord, but takes the association of those who oppose or are misdirected
in devotional service, or accept the association of those who were merely
decorated as Vaisnavas or false renunciates, can never obtain anything which is
auspicious. On the contrary, they will obtain very terrible and inauspicious
results.

Those persons who perform any type of deceptive activity in the presence of
Srila Gaurakisora or who were attached to the objects of sense gratification,
or who engage in illicit sex, went to the lower regions. By the offenses unto
the Holy Name and unto the Vaisnavas, everything becomes lost.

 
Srila Gaurakisora and Manindracandra Maharaja
---------------------------------------------

Once the very aristocratic Sri Manindracandra Nandi, who was a great landowner
who lived in the place of Kasma Bazaar invited Srila Gaurakisora and Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvat Thakura to come any join in an assembly of Vaisnavas
at his palace in Kasma Bazaar. Hearing his request of a Vaisnava who knew
Gaurakisora and Bhaktisiddhanta were very elevated, he said, "If you want me to
come there and associated with you, then you must offer all of your wealth unto
the hands of the rent collector and come here and live with me. You should
build a bhajana kuthir here and we will live together."

"You do not have to worry about what foodstuffs you will eat because I will
colect that when I beg daily and feed you myself. Then I will always be
impelled to visit your bhajana kuthir. But if I now leave the transcendental
abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and come ot your castle
which is the same as Lord Indra, then after some time, I will also begin to
think that I would also like to amass a great amount of land. The result of all
of this will be that the desire for sense gratification will enter my heart."

"As a result of amassing large amounts of land, I will become an object of your
envy. If you want to become very dear to me, then as a friend you should bestow
your mercy by going here, to the spiritual world of Visvambhara, and by the
activity of begging, maintain your life."


Enjoying While Hiding
---------------------

Once one expert and well-respected scholar who lived in Navadvipa came to see
Srila Gaurakisora. Being very distressed at heart, one day Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji Maharaja took off his brahman underwear and put on the nicest and finest
dhoti and chadar which he could find. Folding the chadar nicely, dressing
himself, he then went to the place where Bhaktivinode Thakura resided at
Svananda Kunja. He arrived before Bhaktivinode Thakura. Bhaktivinode Thakura,
seeing him in such an uncomprehendable dress, immediately asked him what the
reason for this was.

In answer Babaji Maharaja said, "We have accepted the dress of Lord Caitanya
Mahaparabhu, but we can only enjoy the association of other women by hiding.
This is for our own benefit because by accepting the Vaisnava dress and
enjoying illicit sex with prostitutes and very low class women, we can, after
having enjoyed them, again accept the dress of babaji and remain free."

In this way, Srila Gaurakisora as an example used this as a way to strike the
other hypocritical persons in other sampradayas.


The Result of Performing Offenses At the Lotus Feet of the Acaryas
------------------------------------------------------------------

There was once one person who spent some time in Navadvipa. He would often come
from Sri Mayapura to visit Srila Gaurakisora. Once, while begging, he came
to Srila Gaurakisora. Babaji Maharaja asked him about the news of Sri Mayapura
Dhama. The person then said, "I will never return back to Mayapura because
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and his associates are all residents of Vaikuntha.
They are covered with the attitude of worship in opulence. I am a strict
performer of worship of Lord Krsna in the attitude of Vrndavana. It is not
important for me to associate with them."

Hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora became very much disturbed and said, "If a
parrot tries to cross over the ocean, then he becomes an object of laughter. If
you actually want to live, then you should, in an inoffensive and humble way
being very tolerant, always chant day and night the holy name of Krsna."

"First of all, give up all of your offenses unto the Vaisnavas of the Lord.
Living in hell, is it possible for you to understand the message of Vraja
Dhama?" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is in Vaikuntha, and he is also
in Vrndavana. The witch of Maya is riding upon your shoulder. How is it that you
can understand the topics of Bhaktisiddhanta and his residing in Vrndavana
Dhama?"

Then the person who had come from Mayapura said, "I would like to stay with you
here in Navadvipa Dhama." Srila Babaji Maharaja said, "You cannot remain here
in Navadvipa Dhama because by the result of being offensive unto the lotus feet
of the Vaisnavas, it is not possible for anyone to stay in Navadvipa. Your
aparadha was performed in the place of the Yoga Pith in Sri Mayapura Dhama.
There is no doubt that you will take a very low birth."

"I am also in Mayapura and simultaneously in Navadvipa. Whoever shows any type
of reluctance towards Sri Mayapura Dhama, they will never be able to reside in
Navadvipa. Sri Mayapura is the place where the son of Saci has taken birth. It
is completely transcendental in nature. Have you been shown the way in which
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura purely
perform their devotion unto the Supreme Lord there? As of yet, you have not
obtained the spiritul eyes to see that."

"You have offended one Vaisnava of the Lord and yet you come to another
Vaisnava asking to be blessed. This is your deceitfulness."

Following this, sure enough, that person who had come to Srila Gaurakisora fell
into associaton with women and irreligious persons and maintaining his life by
begging and performing illicit activities by having sex life with other' wives.
This is the evident result of an offense performed at the lotus feet of a pure
devotee.


The Way a Lusty Person Sees
---------------------------

Once one person came to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and began to complain to
him about another person who was very dear to Maharaja. Hearing this Srila
Babaji Maharaja said, "That person whom you have said is very devotional
and whom you call your master is very much attached to sense gratification. It
is very possible that he will become attracted very deeply to sense
gratification." Then Srila Gaurakisora became so discouraged and disgusted with
this and thus he began to display deep gravity.

The persons who were sitting there with him seeing him in such a condition
became very afraid. Immediately they drove that person away from that place. On
that day Srila Babaji Maharaja showed by his examples that instruction of
Bhaktivinode Thakura which says,

vaishnava caritra, sarvada pavitra yei hinde himsa kori'

Bhaktivinode na sambase tare thake sada mauna dhari

After that person had left, Srila Gaurakisora, still shaking from anger said,
"That person is only interested in his own sense gratification. Therefore, he
has placed impediments which he is characterized by on the shoulders of another
Vaisnava. The devotees of the Lord are never attached with anything which is
not in connection with Lord Sri Krsna. Even if a person is slightly attachd to
material sense gratification, then it is not possible for him to attain pure
love of God."

"When a person is deeply attached to subjects about the Supreme Lord then he
can attain the real symptoms of devotional service and understand them. That
person, who is deeply attached to Srimati Radharani and Sri Krsna, can develop
love of Godhead. In this way everything becomes very favorable for that devotee
in his sevice to the Lord. The real devotees of the Lord never perform their
service out of the result of being overly attached to their own sense
gratification or to that of their relatives."

"Those persons who are sense gratifiers or who are falsely renounced say that
because the devotees of the Lord are desirous of that which is favorable to
their devotinal service and are attached to that, that they are not actually
attached to material sense objects. Such persons who have actually not developed
any attachment to those things in contact with Lord Sri Krsna, are
simply imposters and cheaters."

"That person who offends the devotee of the Lord, or who is very dear to the
devotee of the Lord, that person's association should be given up. Therefore, I
will never again see the face of that person."


The Attachment of the Pure Devotee
----------------------------------

Once one householder came to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and offered him a very
expensive shawl. Srila Babaji Maharaja accecpted the shawl and very carefully
put it next to his side. After he received it, he began to praise the person
who had given it.

Following this, another person came who was a householder and devotee and
offered Srila Gaurakisora some money. Babaji Maharaja very carefully opened his
hand an accepted that money and placed it next to the place where he was
seated. Several times Srila Gaurakisora would place his hand to the side to see
if the money had been properly placed there.

At this time, there was one very very wealthy materialistic person from
Calcutta who saw this. By seeing this, whatever faith he had in Babaji Maharaja
became lost.

Srila Babaji Maharaja, after some time, gave that shawl and that money to some
other Vaisnavas for their service. Later when that materialistic person saw
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Calcutta, he said, "I went to see
Srila Babaji Maharaja but I saw that he was very very much attached when a
person gave him a shawl and money, and he also very carefully gave special
notice to the persons who gave those. How is it possible that he is a devotee?
That I cannot understand."

Hearing this from such a materialistic person, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
said, "What you have seen is only a play. Actually the devotees are never in
any way whatsoever attached to anything which cannot be used in the service of
the Lord. We may show that we are very much attached to different things,
but that is in our service to the Lord. Whoever is very much attached to
amassing wealth and who is very foolish, they will think that Srila Babaji
Maharaja is attached to wealth, etc. Srila Gaurakisora shows his favor toward
those persons who made it possible for the service of the devotees to be better
carried out. Those who are very lusty in nature always see the material
world through that vision."

"Those persons who enjoy sense gratification or who are falsely renounced see
that those who are non-devotees see that attachment which the great devotees of
the Lord have in their service to Krsna is an endeavor for sense gratification."


Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja's Prayer for Initiation
----------------------------------------------------------

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura manifested one pastime which shows how unflinching devotional service
is situated much higher than morality and scholarship.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati who was very pure in nature and a very strict
folower of Vaisnava principles and being very learned in the scriptures, was
given instruction by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura to take initiation from Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, went to Srila Gaurakisora and prayed to him.

Srila Gaurakisora, hearing his prayer, on the first day said to him, "Whether I
can be merciful unto you or not, that I must ask to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then I
will be able to tell you."

On the second day, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja again approached
Srila Gaurakisora. Srila Babaji Maharaja answered to him, "I have forgotten to
ask my prabhu."

In a very distressed way, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, "If you
do not bestow your mercy upon me, then I cannot live any longer."

On this very day, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati approached Srila
Gaurakisora, he replied to him, "I asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu if I could bestow
my mercy unto you, but he said that a person who is very morally expert
and who is endowed with great learnedness is considered very insignificant in
the association of my devotees."

Hearing this, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta expressing a small amount of pride said,
"So, should I think that you are the crown jewel of those who worship Lord
Krsna and that you are also trying to deceive me? If I do fot receive the mercy
of your lotus feet, then I will certainly not remain alive. In the same way in
which Srila Ramanujacarya approached Ghosti Purna 18 times for initiation and
later received his mercy, I will certainly receive your mercy. This is my most
serious promise."

Following this, Srila Gaurakisora became very pleased seeing the determination
of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and washed him with the dust of his lotus feet. On
that day, within the island of Godruma at Svananda Kunja, Srila Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji Maharaja gave Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura initiation.


The Pride of the False Renunciate
---------------------------------

In the Holy Dhama, Sri Mayapura, once at the birthplace of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinode named Gopala dasa who was very
proud began to imitate the renunciation which Srila Gaurakisora manifested.

Gopala dasa was always very absorbed in doing his bhajana. He neglected his
service which was washing the garden and thus, the horses, the cows, and the
goats would come there and destroy the garden. Gopala dasa always had a very
indifferent attitude toward this.

He would always chant the Holy Name of the Lord, therefore, all of those
external activities did not seem very much important to him, and thus, he was
not very attached to them.

Once in a very proud attitude, he approached Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
and said to him that Srila Gaurakisora is more renounced than himself.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, for the purpose of instructing him, gave him the
following beneficial instructions. He began to describe Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji Maharaja's unearthly character and the way in which Srila Babaji
Maharaja was so absorbed in Krsna that his renunciation was so magnanimous,
After some time, Gopala dasa approached Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and
complained about Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja's answer.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura answered and made Gopala dasa understand, "That
which Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja said to you is for the purpose of
controlling you, and if you follow Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja's example
everything will become very auspicious."

It is said that in Mayapura even the Moslems knew that Srila Gaurakisora's
renunciation was genuine whereas Gopala das' was simply imitation. A person who
imitates more advanced devotees of the Lord by acting very renounced, can never
actually become real renunciate and worshiper of the Lord.

Longing for deceit for the purpose of carrying out worship unto the Supreme
Lord in a deceitful eay, one person once came to Sri Dhama Mayapura to Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. This person would at different times go and
have conversations with Srila Gaurakisora, but Srila Babaji Maharaja would
never pay any special heed to him. He had heard that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Maharaja was very very dear to Srila Gaurakisora, so therefore, he
come with the request, "If you could just please ask Srila Gaurakisora to be
merciful unto me, then I could become very very fortunate."

Many times he would come and ask Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati this, so once,
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja went to see Srila Gaurakisora and asked him
if he could please offer his special mercy to this person. Srila Gaurakiosra in
his expert way began to show how that person was not actually serious about
devotional service. He said, "There is no one like Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura who is as free from deceit, so therefore, if you can get his
permission for me to bless you, then I will do so. Since he has come here with
you then I will certainly bless you."

In this connection, Srila Gaurakisora said many things. After some time, Srila
Babaji Maharaja from his own feet took some dust and rubbed it on the head of
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati blessing him saying, "You are nondifferent from
the form of Nityananda Prabhu, so, it is by your heart that all of the distress
of the living entities is mitigated. However, this person who has come with
you, he is actually very very deceitful and hypocritical. He does not actually
want that which is his real benefit. He is simply, for the purpose of wanting
to deceive me, playing like he is asking for my mercy."

After some time, that person displayed his hypocritical nature. Once he went to
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta holding the skull of a human being, and holding it up he
began to drink water out of it. Then he said to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, "Look I
am even more renounced than Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. Can he drink water
from a skull of a human being?"

Hearing this, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura said, "You rascal. You immediately
leave his place. Why is it that you are speaking such hateful words to my
master as this? You are a witchly person. You are an atheist. Therefore you
have no taste for the activities of devotional service. You will definitely
descend to the lower planetary systems."

After some time, because that person had performed a very bad offense unto
Srila Gaurakisora, he became a victim of performing illicit sex with other
persons' wives and would spend his life selling coconut oil which was used by
the women he has been influenced by.


Undeterred Devotional Service
-----------------------------

Once a devotee, who was less inclined toward the chanting of the Holy Name,
came to Srila Gaurakisora and displayed his expertise in performing different
types of arcana, worship. After some time in Kulia, when Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji saw Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, he mentioned to him, "Will this person always
perform arcana or deity worship until he dies?"

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja said, "What is wrong? Are you opposing
something which I am doing? That person who came is in the disciplic line of
your guru. Is he performing rules and regulations which are not proper?"

Srila Babaji Maharaja said, "I will not speak anything else about this."

Srila Gaurakisora was only interested in the chanting of the Holy Name of the
Lord and taking full shelter of that name. He was never engaged in the activity
of following rules and regulations of worship unto the Lord. For this reason,
this instruction was given to show the high quality and indifference.


Love of God and Lust
--------------------

A person, who was the offspring of some very famous Goswamis, came to the place
of Kulia in Navadvipa and would give class from the Bhagavad-gita. After two or
three days of giving class, news reached Srila Gaurakisora that the class
which he was giving had never previously been heard within Navadvipa.

"Tell that person who has told you this," said Srila Gaurakisora, "that he
should never go back and hear those classes again. Look, whenever it rains,
then those unfructified seeds which were in the ground, very very carefully
begin to sprout. Those seeds which have been planted very very carefully begin
to sprout and some seeds which sprout in an undue time die. Whoever's heart
is free from the modes of material nature in such a way so that no type
of material lust can come, he is the only person who is always engaged in
determined devotional service unto the Vaisnavas. This type of persons is
free from all impediments in devotional service, and in their hearts the sprout
of love of Godhead can actually take place by hearing about the pastimes of the
Lord. But those who have materialistic desires within their hearts, if they
hear pastimes of Radha and Krsna, then as result of that, within their
hearts, the seed of material lust will manifest. Acting as if they were hearing
the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, their material lust simply only grows and
grows. It is only natural for those persons who are opposed to the Supreme Lord, it is only natural
that their hearts are covered with lust and that they will consider the
pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda as being materially based on lust.
Whoever thinks that such persons as these are actually faithful in the hearing
the pastimes of the Lord and who think that they do not think that activities
of the Lord are not materialistic and who think that they understand
what is spiritual, they are also very much attached to lustful desires by the
influence of Maya."

"Just because one can say 'spiritual' or one can show another that he is
faithful, that is not actually transcendental or faithfulness."

After saying this, one person spoke to Srila Gaurakisora as follows, "I have
seen with my own eyes that some of those persons who are present during the
discourses of the Bhagavad-gita given there begin to cry very very loudly
shouting, 'Ah, Radha. Ah, Krsna.' And in this way they discuss different
pastimes of the Lord."

Srila Babaji Maharaja then said, "All of that which you have seen is not
actually spiritual emotion. That is all coming from the intoxicating effect of
lust. That is the reason why this material world has become condemned. Just by
looking at their eyes you have been able to tell that they are emerged in love
of God? Those persons who are not immersed in love of God themselves, how is it
possible for them, by seeing through the medium of illusory energy, to
understand what is actual love of God? All of those persons who have become
immersed in so-called crying, tell all of them to give up their places of
residence and their meeting places and go live on the shore of the Ganga. In
this way, performing worship unto the Supreme Lord, give up all of their
attachment to material sense gratification and perform worship unto the Supreme
Lord very seriously.

"If they are able to do this for a year or so, then, we will be able to see all
of them will become opposed to hearing the explanations given in this Gita
class."


The Real Beggar
---------------

One person, by the last name of Saha, once sent Srila Gaurakisora by his own
desire some rice. In this way, other persons would come and sometimes give
small amounts of rice to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. All of the rice which was
kept in Navadvip at that time was in the dharmasalla of the person who was the
owner of the land there. This person by the last name of Saha would very
regularly send rice every day unto Srila Gaurakisora for a period of two
months.

This person began to tell other persons. Srila Gaurakisora sent persons to go
and tell the sender of this rice that he should no longer send any more rice.
When that person found out that Srila Babaji Maharaja no longer wanted to
accept rice which he was sending, he immediately came there and said, "What
offense have I committed against you? Please accept that which I send. Why have
you discontinued taking that which I have offered unto you?"

Babaji Maharaja then said, "My guru gave me the instructions, 'Never to become
a pala guru or never to become what is called dharmashara.'"

Hearing Srila Babaji Maharaja speaking in this way one person did not
understand the meaning of a pala guru and asked the meaning of that. Babaji
Maharaja then explained, "That person who is nourished and attended by a
grhastha devotee who is his disciple, who also tends to his other needs is
called a pala guru (power guru). Or, that person who accepts what is necessary
to fill his stomach from only one person, he is on the same level as a pala
guru. When the person who has been taking care of the guru falls into debt,
then that person may, for the purpose of obtaining the money which he is short
of, sell that which he has given his guru. And, another type is called
the dharmashara or when one who becomes dependent upon one person. He who takes
as much prasadam as he can hold in his hand going from one place to another,
does not become a pala guru. Those persons who nourish fallen spiritual
masters, they also have been known to fine their gurus to recover what they
originally gave."

"At the present day, we see many persons who call themselves 'madukaris.' Those
who call themselves 'madukaris' are therefore thinking that they are
automaticaly babajis. But the real madukari or Vaisnava beggar is free from
the modes of material nature."

"Those persons who actually beg properly, are perfectly surrendered unto
the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. They have no external consciousness or perception
of their gross material body. Those persons who are like conditioned living
entities and those who are eager for sense gratification, are always disturbed
by the urges of the tongue and the belly, and thus, for the satisfaction of
these, remain in the material world."

"Those persons who live in Vrndavana or Navadvipa for the purpose of obtaining
some sense object, they are actually a pala gurus. And those persons who travel
from one place to another in the holy dhama, trying to collect very nice
foodstuffs, they are called dharmashara."
              

The Duty of Those Who Are Worried
---------------------------------

There were some persons who were disciples of Bhaktivinode Thakura who were
newly weds and were very wealthy, who came to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Maharaja to understand how those who are married should follow the process
of devotional service. They wanted to know what the proper instructions
were. So they came and asked Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura made it very evident to them that those
persons who are married find many different types of difficulties in the
execution of their devotional service. After hearing the explanation given by
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, these persons became unhappy.

Sometime later, the person who had come with his wife, went with Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to the place of Kulia in Navadvipa where Srila
Gaurakisora resided. When Srila Gaurakisora heard that this person had married
he said, "Oh, very good. That is very good. Now you will every morning prepare
with your own hands that which will be offered to Lord Visnu. And after you
prepare something for Lord Visnu's satisfaction, then you will accept it as
mahaprasadam and with your wife, whom you will always consider a devotee of
Lord Krsna, you will take that prasada.

"You will never in any way whatsoever have ideas as to enjoy her materially,
but you will always consider her as a servant of Lord Krsna and thus act as her
guru. If this is done, then everything will become very auspicious for you. In
this material world, everything is useful for the Lord's service; wealth,
jewels, wife and husband. You should always know that your wife is not your
servant, but she is the servant of Lord Krsna. In this way, she should be
respected."


Return Ticket
-------------

Once one person by the name of Sri Gupta Bundhillpadai who was a B.A. and an
M.A. came from Calcutta to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji in Navadvip. When they
arrived there, one of the associates of that person introduced him. Srila
Gaurakisora then said, "Oh, very nice. You have come here. Now you should stay
and do worship of the Supreme Lord."

Then the person said, "I came here, but before I left, I kept a return ticket."

When Babaji Maharaja heard this, becoming very wondered, said, "You have made
arrangements for a return ticket when you first came? Then why have you come
here to see me? Just to go back and forth to see me is not important. That
person who wants to always carry out devotional service in a regulated way,
then that person should come and see me."

By this example, Srila Gaurakisora das Babaji taught us that simply going to
see the holy persons for satisfying one's inquisitiveness, or going to see the
devotees of the Lord with some other desire or simply going for the purpose of
seeing other holy places, is not actually the real way to take the association
of the devotees of the Lord, not is it the proper way to travel to different
holy places of pilgrimage. The result of seeing holy places of pilgrimage is to
see the pure devotees of the Lord.

One does not become an actual devotee of the Lord until he surrenders
unflinchingly unto a pure devotee of the Lord. A real devotee of the Lord
always surrenders unto the pure devotees by offering obeisances, by inquiring
from him, and by serving him. The meaning of sanga is completely approaching.
If one brings a return ticket when he comes to visit a pure devotee of the
Lord, or in other words, when one after enjoying material sense gratification
leaves it for some short time but has the intention of returning to it, and
then approaches a pure devotee of the Lord, then he will not receive the result
of this activity. On the contrary, he will not be able to surrender unto that
devotee. Unalloyed devotional service will never be able to enter within his
ear.


External Purity and Material Desires
------------------------------------

Once in Navadvip, one very famous businessman who was having the name Goswami,
wearing woolen cloth, went to see Srila Gaurakisora. In the progression of
their conversation, the topics of how one becomes pure in his practice of
devotional service were discussed. After Srila Gaurakisora was asked concerning
this, he said, "If a person has other materialistic intentions; if he desires
woman, wealth, or position; even if he follows different rules for becoming
pure, still that will not take place.

"If one is inflicted with leprosy on the body then that leprosy gradually
spreads all over the body. If one wears wool cloth to pass stool or if one goes
to the Ganga for the purpose of becoming pure but still has material desires
within his mind and heart, then he is extremely impure. He is so impure that
you can explain to him why he is contaminated, but he will still not understand.
That person who wears wool cloth, silk cloth, who takes rice which has only
been dried in the sun, or who takes bath in the Ganga, or accepts any way
whatsoever to become pure; if he is only thinking of different ways to obtain
wealth and is only thinking of his wife, sons, money and self esteem, then it
is all useless. He will never be able to become pure in his activities. Krsna
will never be pleased with such a person."


At the Birthplace of Lord Caitanya
----------------------------------

Once on the southwest side of one temple in Navadvip, one person came and built
one small house there. He began to worship the Deity of Lord Caitanya within
the house. Once when there was a festival going on, he began to preach to
everyone that this was the actual place where Lord Caitanya appeared.

He began to request everyone to please give donations, so that it could be used
to find other lost holy places of pilgrimage. Many person who came there,
pilgrims, gave him money.

In that area, there was one person named Vamsi dasa Babaji, who was known as a
perfected Vaisnava in the practice of devotional service. He once, hearing of
this, he went to see that place. The person who was claiming that place to be
the original birthplace of Lord Caitanya said that he had been informed within
a dream and the place was revealed directly by Lord Caitanya. But actually,
that place which was accepted by Gaurakisora dasa Babaji as being Lord
Caitanya's birthplace, was backed with very extensive proof. Srila Gaurakisora
said, "Those different great personalities who have discovered the birthplace
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu are to be followed. Simply because this person has
had a dream that this is the birthplace of Lord Caitanya is not proof in
itself. Those persons whom holy places of pilgrimage are manifested, they never
collect money with the intention of finding holy places. Those persons who are
actually followers of Lord Caitanya, it is them who are actually able to find
the place where Lord Caitanya was born. That way in which Srila Bhaktivinode
Thakura and Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja discovered this holy place
must be taken a real fact."

On the following day after Gaurakisora said this, Srila Vamsi dasa Babaji,
taking one small shovel in his hand, went to the place where that person was
preaching that he was representing the original birthplace of Lord Caitanya,
and gradualy began to cut down the fence in front of that place. He showed the
people there how it was improper that this person was imitating that which had
already been discovered by previous acaryas.


The Feast of the Renunciate
---------------------------

Once on the day before the disappearance of Srila Sanatana Goswami, Srila
Babaji Maharaja called one devotee and said to him, "Tomorrow is Srila Sanatana
Goswami's disappearance, therefore, we will have a great festival. In Navadvip,
none of the Goswamis, have a festival." The devotees then said, "How will we be
able to bring all of the things here which are necessary for the feast?"

Srila Babaji Maharaja answered, "You don't have to go anywhere or say anything,
we will simply not eat even once tomorrow and only chant Hare Krsna. That will
be our festival."


How Can I Know a Vaisnava?
--------------------------

Once one person approached Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and asked, "We see
many discriptions of the devotees of the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad
Bhagavatam and other scriptures which are of the highest order. But these
narrations do not have any real counterpart with the persons we see today who
are called Vaisnavas. Sometimes we see these persons are even the opposite of
these persons described, therefore, very mercifully instruct us as to how we
can without a doubt identify the real devotees of the Lord."

Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja replied, "When the desire of the devotee of
the Lord is in direct conjugation with the desire of Krsna, then the
compassionate pure devotee of the Lord regardless of birth, time, and place
liberates the conditioned souls. When the pure devotee of the Lord attracts the
living entities by exhibiting pure love of Krsna, then the Supreme Lord Krsna
begins to doubt as follows: "Those living entities who surrender unto my
devotees are as dear as myself. If I cleanse away all of their debts in this
material world, then I will be in a precarious situation. Those pure devotees
surrendered unto Me are completely dependent and thus simply by their desire, I
am within their grasp.

"For this reason Krsna covers the eyes of the ordinary people so they cannot
realize the qualities of His pure devotee. Krsna also tests the other living
entities in this way to see how attached they are to him. Those symptoms which
are manifestations of Krsna's material energy are not the same symptoms which
are manifested by the pure devotees of the Lord. Therefore, it is only by
the independent desire of the pure devotees of the Lord that the symptoms can
be seen even through the scriptures.

"Sometimes it is seen that pure devotees will offer a high position of prestige
to a conditioned living entity. In this way, such a person is kept at a distance
from the Supreme Lord. At other times, the pure devotee of the Lord may become
alarmed at attracting too many followers and thus, keep his natural qualities
hidden. Even though they keep their spiritual identity hidden, pure devotees
may act as if they are going to accept disciples so that persons will remain
with them and receive their association. They also carry out the role of giving
instructions and accepting different types of service."

Srila Gaurakisora then continued, "I have seen with my own eyes a devotee in
Vrndavana who would perform his devotional service in a solitary place. He
lived in a village just north of Radha Kunda. Many different persons would
approach him and ask for different benefits and for the removal of mental and
physical distress. He would fulfill their desires and thus became famous and
well known as a perfected practitioner in devotional service. He was very
renounced, free from the desires of wealth, woman and prestige. He was always
compassionate to the living entities and free from fault in his appearance.

"As it became circulated that he was of this type of character, many persons
came to annoy him. Following this, the great devotee had a very wealthy man in
Calcutta monthly pay the young beautiful wife of a sweeper to sit in front of
his place of worship. In this way, people would come and consider he was having
illicit connections with that woman and that he was collecting money out of
greed. Other persons would come and because of their material desires not being
fulfilled, would altogether reject him. This person was actually a Vaisnava.
When devotees of the Lord, out of compassion, manifest their mercy, then the
faithful persons who worship the Lord will become attracted to them.

"Those persons who then surrender unto the pure devotee are eventually able to
attain pure devotional service. Extremely fortunate persons are able to approach
Krsna by the mercy of the devotee. Otherwise, being unfortunate, the pure
devotee may in some way ot another, act in such a way as to reject them. Sober
devotees always pray to the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to become more serious and non-deviates. It is by their
mercy that one is able to understand the character of the pure devotee. By the
favor of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu one's heart becomes
free from all pride and becomes filled with humility. In this condition, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu manifest the identity of the pure
devotee. The pure devotee's identity is manifest by Lord Caitanya and Lord
Nityananda and then Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya make the devotees known
to everyone. Therefore, it has been mentioned in the Caitanya Caritamrta."


Imitating the Pure Devotee
--------------------------

One brahmacari who was born in the family of a brahmana, pretending to be
interested in devotional service, came to Srila Gaurakisora. As a result of
this, many persons became to respect that brahmacari. The brahmacari, after
some time, decided he would also sit in the same manner as Srila Gaurakisora.
He collected money which he used to build a small bhajana kuthir like that of
Srila Babaji Maharaja. He had his small hut built on the bank of the Ganga.

The brahmacari considered that he would like to approach Srila Gaurakisora and
getting permission from him entered into his small hut to begin his solitary
bhajana. When he approached Gaurakisora, who, being in direct contact with
Supersoul, stood and said, "If you want to perform devotional service, then it
is very good. But, if you enter into the house of Maya, then you will be grasped
by many impediments. You should give up living in that hut and just live under
the nearby trees in the area."

Shortly after this, one person with a strong sense of false ego living in the
nearby area asked Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, "You first told us to lock ourselves
up in our small huts and to perform our worship unto the Supreme Lord. Now you
are giving the instruction that one must live under the trees in order to
perform proper worship."

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji then manifested his pastimes as if he were
extremely mad and said, "I have given the correct instructions. The body is
like a room and the eyes are like the front door. But this person, simply
closing the wooden door of his hut simply learns to copy the activities of the
pure devotee. Actually his eyes are still open to sense objects. Therefore it
is better for him to live under the trees. If one follows the instructions of
the devotees of the Lord, then he will obtain that which is actually
beneficial. In this way, if one becomes more and more faithful unto that
devotee's service, then he will be able to attain pure devotional service."

"But if one imitates the activities of the the great devotees of the Lord, then
he will quickly be checked and fall down."

Not long after this, the brahmacari left that place and Srila Babaji Maharaja
expressed himself in the following way to persons who were present there, "Just
see how ordinary person's intelligence has become destroyed. They simply want
some cheap adoration from the people in general by living in a secluded hut.
But the result of that, shortly following this, they become attracted to
gaining wealth and must leave. Persons who are not even properly acting in the
lower stages of devotion want to obtain by their own means the standard of
practice of pure devotees, paramahamsas."

It wasn't long after this that that brahmacari returned to his home and became
engaged in different types of materialistic activities.

One person came to Srila Gaurakisora and upon arriving asked him as to the
whereabouts of that brahmacari. He expressed himself as follows: "Why did that
brahmacari become influenced by maya even after he received the association of
the devotees of the Lord? If one is in contact with the devotees of the Lord,
he doesn't receive the result?"

Srila Gaurakisora then said, "If one acts like a devotee of the Lord, then he
will never obtain the result. A person who looses his chance before actually
attaining the real association of the devotees of the Lord, then he becomes
discarded by the result of that activity. That brahmacari has now become so
fallen but maybe he will not eat meat or fish again and will perform some
proper religious activities, but he will never be able to enter into real
devotion to the Supreme Lord."


Other Desires
-------------

The day before the Rathayatra festival, Srila Gaurakisora called the residents
of a nearby ashrama and asked, "Will all of you tomorrow go and attend the
Rathayatra festival? There will be a very large festival at the Paramatalla in
Navadvip. And there will be a very large chariot. After the festival everyone
will go to the house of the very famous landowner who is having a big feast. If
you go there, then you will be able to eat many many sweets such as rasgullas
and flat rice and curd."

In this way, Srila Gaurakisora repeatedly told different persons about the
Rathayatra festival which woud happen the following day. The people in this
way began to think that Srila Babaji Maharaja was giving them permission to
attend the Rathayatra festival. There were always several books such as the Sri
Caitanya Caritamrta and the Sri Caitanya Bhagavata and the Srimad Bhagavatam
which were kept near Babaji Maharaja. Any times persons would come and ask
questions from these books. Molding different classes, Srila Gaurakisora would
very expertly answer any questions concerning the conclusions of the different
fruits in devotional service.

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja would like to hear the pastimes of
Prahlada Maharaja again and again. He would also repeat those pastimes many
times. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would also reveal the pastimes of Prahlada
Maharaja and his teachings. Sometimes Srila Gaurakisora would read the book
called Prema Bhakti Candrika and then he would explain it's meaning. Persons
would come and read these different books to him, but it was only Gaurakisora
dasa Babaji who could properly explain their meaning.

On the day of the Rathayatra festival, everyone assembled to go to the festival.
Because everyone had gone there, there was no one to read from any of the books
that day. On that day Srila Gaurakisora sat alone in his kuthir and began to
laugh very sweetly. He came outside and then he said, "Today I have found life
again. Everyone has gone. Those who are offenders unto the holy name, they have
left the association of devotees and the chanting of Hare Krsna and have gone
to see the Rathayatra festival where there are very many beautiful young women
and other various sense objects. Persons simply enact the roles as Vaisnavas in
the association of pure devotees, but they flow down that current of other
desires."

Srila Babaji Maharaja very loudly began to chant the glories of the holy name
of the Lord. The persons who saw the Rathayatra festival went to see Babaji
Maharaja. Srila Babaji Maharaja gravely sat there and said nothing to anyone.


Gaurakisora's Relationship with Bhaktivinode Thakura
----------------------------------------------------

In Calcutta in a place called Vamsi Bhavan there is the very worshipable wife
of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, by the name of Srimati Bhagavati devi. Once
Srimati Bhagavati devi and one of her highly elevated Vaisnava friends named
Sri Juptakadambadi devi Majodidi Thakurani came to the place in Navadvip to see
Srila Gaurakisora.

When Srila Babaji Maharaja saw them he said, "What did the two of you come here
for leaving your deities at home? Have you come here to shop in the markets? Or
did you come to see the different deities in the temples who are found in the
markets? It is in your house in which the very intimate associates of Lord
Caitanya have appeared. If you would like to bring him (Bhaktisiddhanta) here
so that he can stay for some time then both of you should return back to your
homes and perform worship to the Supreme Lord very seriously. Otherwise, I will
not be able to let him stay here."


The Desire of the Devotee
-------------------------

When Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura was performing his pastimes of illness in
Calcutta when he resided in the place called Bhakti Bhavan, then one
materialistic Goswami came to Navadvip to see Srila Gaurakisora for some
crooked purpose. He said to Gaurakisora "You should go to Calcutta and take
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura on your head and in this way bring him from that
place, which is in the material universe, back with you here, to the Holy Dhama."

That Goswami who was very materialistic by nature did not know how to act with
those persons who are very dear to the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Therefore he could not understand the following conclusion about the devotees
of the Lord.

In those places where the pure devotees of the Lord reside, there the pure
devotee of the Lord carries on his activities with the eternal associates of
the Supreme Lord in Goloka Vrndavana. In this way, he worships the residing
deity there, Krsna, always. The article written by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura
entitled (?) gives one the proper understanding of how this is manifested
amongst the pure devotees of the Lord.

Those persons who have become free from the mistake of viewing everything with
materialistic vision, they can actually understand the purpose of this. That
same Goswami from Calcutta once came to Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and told him
the desire of Srila Gaurakisora. He expressed to him that Srila Gaurakisora
wanted him to come to Navadvip, for the purpose of Hari bhajana. Because the
aforementioned Gosai did not actually understand the transcendental activities
of Sria Bhaktisiddhanta and the other pure devotees, therefore, he
misinterpreted the instructions which Krsna gives.

Many persons use this to try and deceive us. If we don't understand what is the
proper intention which we should have in mind and heart when we approach the
devotees of the Lord, then the pure devotees of the Lord simply spread such
words which are pleasing to our taste and thus carry on their uninterrupted
devotion unto the Supreme Lord. Many materialistic persons would come to Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji and express different types of intentions.

When they would come to fulfill that intention which they had then they would
become rejected. No one can approach a pure devotee of the Lord if he is
enthusiastic to perform materialistic activity. When one fully surrenders unto
the pure devotee of the Lord and becomes enthusiastic to serve him after that
surrender, then his self identity is revealed and thus he is able to engage in
worshiping the Supreme Lord.


The Blessings of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji
----------------------------------------------

Once Sripada Bhaktitirthapada Maharaja according to the instruction of Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, went from Sridhama Mayapura to Bhaktivinode Thakura.
Taking Bhaktivinode's permission he went over to the place where Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja would often go.

At that time, Sripada Tirtha Maharaja was in the householder ashrama. At that
time he had not taken initiation from Bhaktivinode Thakura. When Sripada Tirtha
Maharaja was going to see Srila Gaurakisora he took with him a type of
watermelon fruit. At that time, Srila Gaurakisora would not accept anything
from other persons. Still when Srila Gaurakisora had heard that Sripada Tirtha
Maharaja had just come from Bhaktivinode Thakura, then he very mercifully
accepted that fruit. After accepting the fruit, he asked the residents in the
dharmasalla there to please sing one song from Narottama das Thakura.

Following this, they sang other devotional songs such as Gauranga Bolite Habe
and Hari Hari Bolidai. After the kirtan had ended, Srila Gaurakisora told the
grhastha who had sung the song the following instructions: "One should always
remain very faithful unto the guru and the devotees of the Lord. One should
always be very very humble like a blade of grass and very tolerant like a tree
and in this way always be able to chant the holy names of the Lord. If one
comes into association with undesirous persons, then his mind, words, and
actions become far from being engaged in the devotion of the Lord."

Then one devotee there said, "We have not as yet surrendered unto the lotus
feet of the guru."

In answer, Srila Gaurakisora replied, "Have you not as yet been to see
Bhaktivinode Thakura? If you have been there to Sri Mayapura Dhama which is the
place where full self-surrender takes place, then how is it that you can say
that you have not taken shelter of a spiritual master? Srila Bhaktivinode is
waiting for you. Please go there and accept his mercy."

Srila Gaurakisora after saying this had that particular devotee, who would in
the future be Sripada Tirtha Maharaja, shave his hair. He then told that
devotee, "In the future you will be a great sannyasi and you will travel from
place to place, country to country and preach the holy names of the Lord."

After receiving this benediction from Srila Gaura Kisora das Babaji, that
devotee touched his lotus feet and offered his obeisances. Srila Babaji
Maharaja would never let anyone, under any circumstances touch his feet. When
persons would come who were materialistically inclined and want to touch his
feet, he would say "If you touch my feet, everything will be destroyed in your
house." In this way he would show anger.

But at this time he showed no objection whatsoever. That person who took his
blessings then went on that day to see Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and accepted
the gayatri mantra from him. According to the prediction of Srila Gaurakisora
das Babaji, this person accepted sannyasa from Om Visnupada Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in the future and was later called Tridandi.
He became famous in India for his great preaching propensity.


The Disappearance of Srila Gaurakisora
--------------------------------------

In the Bengali year, 1322, in the last day of Kartika right during the last
part of the night, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja re-entered into his
eternal loving pastimes with the Supreme Lord. After Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Maharaja had heard of his disappearance, he went to the place of the
dharmasalla where Srila Gaurakisora lived. At that time different persons from
different temples in the area began to fiercely argue with one another as where
the spiritual body of Srila Babaji Maharaja should be placed.

They know that in the future if the samadhi of Srila Gaurakisora was placed in
their locality, that they would be able to earn large amounts of money from
persons coming to take his darshan. But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Maharaja obstructed them form doing so. The inspector of the police of Navadvip
arrived at the scene. At that time Sri Gupta was the inspector of
police.

After there were many discussions with the so-called mahantas of that area.
They came and proclaimed, "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is not
actually a sannyasi. Therefore, body of this person, Srila Gaurakisora dasa
Babaji, who was a renunciate of householder life, cannot be touched by
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. He does not have that qualification."

In answer, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in a voice as deep as thunder said, "I am the
only disciple of Srila Paramahamsa Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Even if I
haven't accepted sannyasa, I have been a very strict celibate brahmacari all my
life. And, by the mercy of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, I have never
performed the pastimes of a monkey-like renunciate hiding in different places,
being addicted to prostitution and other sinful sctivities. This I can certainly
say with all pride.

"If there are any persons who are present before me who are actually of a pure
nature and really renounced from householder life, then that person can build
the samadhi for Srila Babaji Maharaja. To that, I will have no objection
whatsoever. If anyone here has not had illicit sexual connections within one
year, or six months, or one month, or within the last three days, then he has
the qualifications to touch this spiritual body. Otherwise, if someone who does
not have this qualificaton, touches him, he will be completely devastated."

Hearing this, the superintendent of police said, "How is it that he can prove
this?"

"Whaterver it is they say, I will believe," replied Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Thakura.

After Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said this, gradually one by one the so-called
babajis turned their backs toward Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. Seeing
this, the magistrate became very wondered.

Then several persons approached Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja and
said, "Before Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja disappeared, he requested
that his body be bound with ropes and be dragged through the streets of
Navadvip Dhama, and thus, be bathed in the dust of the Dhama. Therefore, we
should follow these instructions of Srila Babaji Maharaja."

Then Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja spoke up and said, "My spiritual
master, on whose shoulders reside the Supreme Lord, Krsnacandra, has said this
in a very very deep mood of humility in order to destroy the pride of those
persons who are opposing the Supreme Lord. Even though we are inexperienced,
foolish and offensive, still, I will not let his instruction be misinterpreted.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the spiritual body of Srila Haridasa Thakura, when
he disappeared, on His lap and began to dance. Just see how his glories have
been described. So therefore, we are also following in the footsteps of Lord
Caitanya. Place the transcendental body of Srila Gaurakisora above our heads."

According to the regulations from the Samakara Depika, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Maharaja with his own hands began to construct the samadhi of Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. The samadhi was begun on the first day of the
Month of Oriyan, on the afternoon of Ekadasi in the year 1322 Bhagupta in
Kulia, Navadvip.

At the time at which the samadhi was built, there was one person from the
district of Yusobara who lived in a place called Lowagara whose last name was
Podara. He came there and said that the samadhi site of Srila Gaurakisora which
had been donated had been confiscated from them. After some time, other persons
in that area began to forget about Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, and
the place in which his samadhi was built, different types of illicit activities
were performed to such a degree that those people began manifesting arrogant
behavior and other offenses unto persons who were very dear to Srila Gaurakisora by
manifesting pride and other offenses.

Later on, by the desire of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the place of
his samadhi was gradually became engulfed by the changing current of the Ganga.
When the samadhi was within very close proximity to Ganga Devi, in 1338, during
the fifth day of the month of Bhadra, his samadhi was removed under the
instructions of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja, from that place to a
place in Sri Mayapura Dhama where the Caitanya Matha is presently situated.
That place is non-different from Radha Kunda in Vrndavana.

In the month of Asvin(?), on the 2nd day, in 1339, a second samadhi of Srila
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was established. At that time Sri Yukta
Nitya Gauranga dasa Adhikari and Sri Bhaktirasananda, who were very simple in
character and free from all types of pride gave the funds to construct the
beautiful samadhi temple of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja.

