Some instructions of Shree Shree Bijoy Krishna Goswami (Gosaiji)

(A) Scriptures

1. One can be saved only by following the words of the sages respectfully, else, is there a way out in today’s time? It gives rise to various problems just by reading a book written by somebody or hearing a lecture delivered by someone. Someone claiming to represent Hindu religion says that there is no harm in eating meat. This should be declared as one’s own views instead of labelling it as belonging to Hindu religion. The body has to be purified by taking satwik (pure) food. Without purity of the body, the elements cannot be purified (bhootshuddhi). One cannot be eligible to worship without purity of the elements. The brahmins who worship do not even touch the offerings before purifying the elements. These days bhoot shuddhi is confined only to the mantras. Bhoot shuddhi is not just a mantra. The five elements of this body have to be purified. In this state one can read one chapter of the Gita, some parts of Shreemad Bhagabat, Shree Chaitanya Charitamrita, Shree Chaitanya Bhagavat, Prayers of Shree Narottam Thakur etc. One will be secured and achieve peace by following this path. Reading the scriptures written by the sages gives peace to the soul and there will be no restlessness. Now, what is the need of the bhoot shuddhi and purity of the body? These are needed for worship. Wrong interpretation of Vedanta has removed all these. If one develops yearning by following the path mentioned above, then by God’s grace one can achieve something.

2. Only the sages had the power to say something new about religion. We do not have the capacity to understand their views on religion kept in the form of scriptures. But we are desirous of following their sermons properly. Now a days it is difficult to conform to the real scriptures, owing to physical, social and environmental reasons.

3. Scriptures and good conduct should be followed always. I too was a Brahmo, I did not follow anything. But after observing the scriptures I have benefitted mentally and physically.

4. One will not benefit just by reading any one book. At first one should read selectively. Such as Mahabharat, Ramayana, Bhagavat Gita, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Bhaktamala, Adhyatma Ramayana. One should read according to one’s choice from these books. Only after one develops a taste in the scriptures will one benefit by reading the Vedas, Upanishad, Smriti, Tantra, Puran etc. There is no doubt that the Hindi Bhaktamala is still better.

5. It is very much necessary to abide by the scriptures. There is no option but to follow the foot-prints of the sages.

6. Guru Nanak has repeatedly shown the futility of following paths other than the scriptures.

7. Understanding Hindu scriptures is difficult without the knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads. The complicated question of religion cannot be solved without throughly studying the eighteen Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharat. The solution of a matter in the Adi Parva (first chapter) is to be found in Shanti Parva (chapter of Peace). The entire detail of a matter mentioned in Brahmanda Puran is to be found in the Markandeya Puran. The solution of a matter mentioned in Manusamhita is to be found in Brihat Goutam Samhita. The full details of a matter mentioned in the Nirvana Tantra is available in Rudrajamal. A story which appears in Yajurveda Samhita, Saamveda Samhita is found in Shreemad Bhagavat, Vishnupuran etc. So commenting on them without studying the scriptures thoroughly is but deception and ignorance.

8. The body becomes pure by bathing in the Ganga, going on pilgrimages, fasting on the days of ekadashi (eleventh day of the lunar month), full moon and new moon etc.

9. All the places of pilgrimage are present in the house that contains Ramayana, Mahabharata and Shreemad Bhagavat.

10. The scriptures cannot be understood without studying under a preceptor.

11. Even if a route other than that laid down by the scriptures and good conduct leads you to Brahmaloka, do not follow it. It is told by the sages that though some people, owing to the influences of good deeds done in previous birth, may attain their destination by other route, but the beginners will move about in cycles of blind darkness, if they do so. Violation of the Upanishads and sermons of the sages will not lead one to the real truth of the Aryans.

12. All the things, other than the scriptures, sermons of the sages, conduct of the great ones are of no substance. Only when things comply with these, should they be accepted. Otherwise comments made by anybody need not necessarily comply with the scriptures. Some people express their personal opinions without looking into the scriptures and these cause problems.

13. Bhagavat Gita and Shreemad Bhagavat are the commentaries on the Upanishads. The message of the soul of the sages can be realised when one follows spiritual practice according to these books.

(B) General Sermons

1. What is Satsanga? The place where one develops religious feelings and gives up irreligious ones, where no room for groupism or communalism exists, is satsanga. The place where satsanga takes place is always replete with good conversations on spiritual topics and happiness. Satsanga means a place where, in sat company some are laughing, some are dancing with joy. A place devoid of such expressions cannot be called one of satsanga. To a person who is sat (virtuous), all are equal. His affection does not vary on the basis of closeness or distance. The virtuous person welcomes even a person condemned to hell by the populace; this is because he sees his Lord in such a person and feels satisfied. No groupism can penetrate him.

2. Doing work is not futile. Worldly desires are destroyed if you take the name of God while working. The one whose karma is not yet over cannot repeat naam throughout the day. He wastes a lot of time in futile work. Do your work without expecting anything. Desireless work severs the bondage of work.

3. Gifts should be made to the right candidate. One who always asks for something is not the right person for a gift. It is improper to make a gift to a sycophant. Gifts made out of fear, shame, a hope for a return are not proper gifts. Gifts driven by a desire to attain heaven or to neutralise a sin are not gifts. The real giver should be eager to donate to the deserving person in the same way as a thirsty person becomes eager to drink water on seeing it. He does not hesitate to give away all he has to alleviate the suffering of others. One derives unlimited joy by making a real gift. Mahabharata describes the gleaner1 brahmin as the greatest giver.

4. A man may have thousands of faults, but even then he should be praised for the virtues he has along with these faults. Praising people with a simple mind is as good as worshipping God. By praising others for their good qualities, one’s own faults are removed, strength is achieved and happiness attained. Slandering takes away one’s own virtues.

5. One should have intense yearning to receive God’s grace. Shree Chaitanya taught us this lesson. Even if I fail to subjugate the tendencies in my mind after much effort, I do not lose spirituality—only my soul becomes dull, does not stay cheerful. Sins committed wilfully are irreligious. When tendencies become forceful during spiritual practice, efforts should be made to subjugate them. Sin does not touch as long as there is struggle. Dullness enters only during weakness in oneself. Everything becomes allright when one is linked with the scriptures and good conduct.

6. Preaching by keertan is highly advantageous. A better medium for preaching has not yet been discovered in the world so far. The way keertan acts on the heart, mind and the soul of the people cannot he done by talks or sermons. That is why Shreeman Mahaprabhu and Goswamipaadas have said that keertan is the best path. However, the real state cannot be achieved just by engaging oneself in keertan.

7. Real single mindedness is not achievable without destruction of the desires and doubts of mind. One should always remember that God exists. Rememberance, mental culture and profound meditation are the best ways of concentration.

8. There are expression of three type of emotions during keertans. People benefit by the expressions of satwik emotion. Emotions of rajobhav sometimes benefit and sometimes harm people. The expression of tamobhav is a nuisance for people, because in this type of emotion people just jump about haphazardly. Many persons get hurt, break their legs and household goods are damaged by their unseemly dancing. Children being frightened, cry out.

9. What is sadhan? Repetition of the naam given by Guru is not sadhan. The naam given by Sadguru will continue automatically eternally by his power. Sadhan means giving up restlessness in every matter and performing all work with unlimited patience.

10. Sadhan should be done every night between 2 A.M. and 5 A.M. If you are unable to do sadhan for 3 hours, try to do it even for 2 hours or 1 hour. It is beneficial to do it between 4 A.M. and 5 A.M. in the morning. It is enough to sleep up to 6 hours at night.

11. As long as one has lust and anger, these will appear in the mind at times. It is no offence if they appear. There is no sin if we try to prevent them from appearing in the mind. Sin is to join it wilfully with pleasure. There is no offence even if one gets defeated in combatting this.

12. Taking basil leaves (tulsi) in drinking water, rice, food and taking it even after food is good. The body stays cool this way.

13. The first stage of dharma – truth, justice, kindness to living beings, respect to parents and elderly people, desire for satsanga, caution with wives of others, non-covetous of others’ wealth.

14. Stages of attaining love through Harinaam:

    1) Recognizing what is sinful,
    2) repentance in acts of sin,
    3) disinclination towards sinful acts,
    4) hatred for evil company,
    5) liking for company of pious ones,
    6) taste for naam and distaste for slander,
    7) development of satwik emotion and
    8) love.
    

- Above instructions of Gosaiji was compiled by Swami Amalananda Saraswati