The gift of Vraja prema is accessed through the bhagavata, of which there are two: the great scripture Srimad-Bhagavatam and the person who personifies its ecstasy.

Just as Mahaprabhu is himself Jagannatha but nonetheless took the position of cleaning the temple, similarly it is said that when one begins to chant Krishna nama, Krishna goes into their heart and takes the role of the sweeper, removing the dirt that prevents him from residing there at all times.

Krishna in the form of Mahaprabhu has drawn the bhava, the essence, from Gadadhara, and Gadadhara, like a shadow, is following Mahaprabhu everywhere. As one’s shadow follows him, Gadadhara is following Mahaprabhu—Radharani trying to get her essence back.

Wherever the truth is found, we must be open to accept that for its own intrinsic value, and we cannot be guided by any mundane consideration. Only with this spirit can we overcome the fear of our own progress.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura initiated Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura with a Nrsingha mantra, and Bhaktisiddhanta in turn gave this mantra to some of his disciples. However, Nrsinghadeva is not a raga-marga deity.

Spiritual practice brings together a number of elements that work with each other to ensure its success. At the center of them all, it has one essential constituent that serves as its catalyst: devotion to sri guru.

Anupama, Murari Gupta, and the various Rama bhaktas of South India all appeared in Mahaprabhu’s lila, and we should appreciate the real devotion of any bhakta who fans the flame of spiritual partiality in their hearts.

If a sadhu spontaneously out of his own accord is expressing so many qualities of Krishna, and we go away, losing the benefit of that – it is suicidal. Rather, we need attachment for that. We should think, “Oh, the good qualities of Krishna are being explained through this agent: I must try to give my ear to that.”

Even those who Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejected, Nityananda Prabhu sheltered, and gradually Mahaprabhu had to accept them. So the grace of Nityananda is the greatest both in magnitude and circumference, and that is our solace, for by his mercy even the most fallen souls can attain the supreme goal.

Naked and appearing as though half mad, Sukadeva Goswami entered the assembly. All rose in respect and Sukadeva was unanimously given the chair of the speaker.

Thus one should tolerate both happiness and distress knowing them to be one and the same in the ultimate issue. From a world of apparent variety one must learn to identify with its underlying unity.