ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS OF SRILA GOUR KISHORE DAS BABAJI

ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS OF SRILA GOUR KISHORE DAS BABAJI
1) For one who is truly doing hari-bhajan, only hari-bhajan is favorable. Other than this activity, all other types of services and religious activities become the cause of material bondage.
2) For one who is trying to perform solitary worship, nirjana-bhajana, if there is an absence of hearing and chanting hari-kathā, or an absence of sādhu-sanga, then the illusory energy māyā attacks them with greater strength.
3) That sādhu who drives out the witch of māyā by the harsh words of truth is a real sādhu and our best friend.
4) If one desires to perform hari-bhajan, one must give up association of materialistic persons, asat-sanga.
5) Tolerating many difficulties, one should always remain with pure association, sat-sanga, and always maintain hearing and chanting. By this, one’s service to the holy name of Lord Hari will always be protected.
6) The amount of one’s hari-bhajan cannot be calculated by the approval of common people. If duplicity has entered into one’s hari-bhajan, then one will make an external pretense of great renunciation and detachment, as well as a show of devotion and devotional activities. Such behavior is not genuine detachment or bhāva-bhakti.
7) So long as the consideration that one’s body belongs to oneself, dehātma-bodha, is present, then there is no question of surrender and no chance of getting mercy from Lord Hari. One’s dehātmabodha is expanded by attachment to women, children, etc.
— Translated by Sri Pradosh Sahoo from Śri Upadeśāmta, edited by H.H. Bhakti Ranjan Sagar Maharaja. Bengali. Published by Saraswat Gaudiya Asan. Kolkata. 1992.
– An expert from Sri Krishna-kathamrta Bindu, a free bi-monthly magazine service provided by Gopal Jiu Publications.