Raya Ramananda Samvada (24): The Topmost Education, Fame, Wealth & Distress, Attaining Gopi-bhava, CC Madhya 8.242 | Srila BV Narayana Gosvami Maharaja’s Official Archive

This audio is included in the following series of lectures:

Raya Ramananda Samvada

Topics

During Rainy season, there is preparation of Jhulana in Vraja, After some time, comes Baladeva Purnima then Janamastami then Radhastami then Kartika
Gurudeva is describing Vrndavana's beauty, Radhika has come back to Her parent's house
What is specialty of Rupa Gosvami? How he is important in our sampradaya.
As sadhakas full of faults, how can we do bhajana? Hear about great Vaisnavas, how they did their bhajana and attained Godhead.
Gurudeva talks about Conversation between Raya Ramananda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Santa, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya rasa. What is svarupa of prema, svarupa of Radha Krsna, how we can get these bhavas, gopi-bhava
In Kaliyuga, the conditioned soul can get the topmost prema. To get this prema we must remember how the gopis are serving Radha and Krsna.
CC Madhya 8.244: prabhu puche, ramananda karena uttara, ei mata sei ratre katha paraspara
CC Madhya 8.245: prabhu kahe, — “kon vidya vidya-madhye sara?” raya kahe, — “krsna-bhakti vina vidya nahi ara”
Mahaprabhu asked “Of all types of education, which is the most important? Ramananda Raya replied, “No education is important other than the transcendental devotional service of Krsna.”
Meaning of “aksara” which never destroys, never born never dies, which is sat-cit & ananda, root of everything
Two types of aksara” - God & Jivas (minute)
As per BG 15.16 - There are two kinds of beings in creation, the ksara (perishable) and aksara (imperishable)
Try to have bhakti for Guru like you have for the Lord- ‘yasya deve para bhaktir.’
Sraddha arises due to sukruti, by knowingly & unknowingly serving vaisnavas
What is the definition of sraddha?
Stages of bhakti – how it goes from sraddha to prema bhakti
Among all kinds of vidya- prema bhakti is topmost
All this will be achieved by suddha nama
CC Madhya 8.246: ‘kirti-gana-madhye jivera kon bada kirti?’ ‘krsna-bhakta baliya yanhara haya khyati’
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked Ramananda Raya, “Out of all glorious activities, which is the most glorious?” Ramananda Raya replied, “That person who is reputed to be a devotee of Lord Krsna enjoys the utmost fame and glory.”
Srila Gurudeva is giving example of an Olympic winner & Prime minister who were once famous but later got rejected by society
Very rare for a Vaisnava to take birth in one's family, very fortunate if one Vaisnava takes birth in the family.
CC Madhya 8.247: ‘sampattira madhye jivera kon sampatti gani?’ ‘radha-krsne prema yanra, sei bada dhani’
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked “Of the many capitalists who possess great riches, who is the topmost?” Ramananda Raya replied, “He who is richest in love for Radha and Krsna is the greatest capitalist.”
What is the real wealth? There is no greater wealth than Radha Krsna prema.
CC Madhya 8.248: ‘duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?’ ‘krsna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para’
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?” Ramananda Raya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Krsna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”
What is the topmost happiness? Meeting Vaisnavas.
Most beneficial and most important is sadhu sanga.
No Vrajavasis ever leave Vraja and association of vrajavasis is necessary to have association of Krsna