QUOTE
One day Murari Gupta, an Ayurvedic doctor, visited Navadvipa accompanied by his followers.
While walking down the read, they were discussing the yoga-sastras. Visvambhara Raya,
walking directly behind Murari Gupta, began mimicking Murari's way of speaking.
Murari Gupta looked askance at the frivolous boy and continued talking to his followers.
Gaurahari and His friends increased their mocking of Murari by exactly imitating both
his walking stile and hand-gestures. Noticing this, Murari Vaidya became furious and rebuked Nimai:
"Who says that this boy is well-behaved? I recognize Him to be the son of the brahmana,
Jagannatha Misra. I've heard it everywhere that people admire Him and call him Nimai."
Angry at Murari Gupta's criticism, Gaurahari frowned and said:
"When you take your meal today I will make you realize something wonderful."
After hearing this equivocal statement, the bewildered Murari returned to his residence.
Meanwhile, Gaurahari disguised His identity by dressing opulently.
Holding laddus in His hands, Gaurahari arrived at Murari's house. Entering the house,
He said in a roaring voice:
"Murari!"
While sitting for his meal, Murari heard that voice and remembered what Nimai said earlier.
Feeling a bit surprised, he said: "What are You doing?"
Nimai replied: "Oh, don't get up. I am here, so just carry on with your prasada".
As Murari became absorbed in taking his meal, Visvambhara slowly moved closer.
Then suddenly, Nimai passed urine on Murari's plate.
"What?! What are you doing?! Shame, shame on you!", said Murari as he quickly got up.
Clapping His hands and dancing, Gauranga gleefully said:
"Giving up the path of devotion, you have adopted the path of yoga. You should forget about
karma and jnana and just worship Radha and Krishna with all of your heart. Become a rasika
bhakta and you will taste the blissful mellows of loving Krshna. One attached to material things
can't do Krishna bhajana and his consciousness remains low and impure."
"Do you understand these things? Lord Hari is omnipotent and full of compassion. He is the
treasure and the very life of the gopis at Vrindavana. Why do you hurt the Lord by not serving Him?"
While walking down the read, they were discussing the yoga-sastras. Visvambhara Raya,
walking directly behind Murari Gupta, began mimicking Murari's way of speaking.
Murari Gupta looked askance at the frivolous boy and continued talking to his followers.
Gaurahari and His friends increased their mocking of Murari by exactly imitating both
his walking stile and hand-gestures. Noticing this, Murari Vaidya became furious and rebuked Nimai:
"Who says that this boy is well-behaved? I recognize Him to be the son of the brahmana,
Jagannatha Misra. I've heard it everywhere that people admire Him and call him Nimai."
Angry at Murari Gupta's criticism, Gaurahari frowned and said:
"When you take your meal today I will make you realize something wonderful."
After hearing this equivocal statement, the bewildered Murari returned to his residence.
Meanwhile, Gaurahari disguised His identity by dressing opulently.
Holding laddus in His hands, Gaurahari arrived at Murari's house. Entering the house,
He said in a roaring voice:
"Murari!"
While sitting for his meal, Murari heard that voice and remembered what Nimai said earlier.
Feeling a bit surprised, he said: "What are You doing?"
Nimai replied: "Oh, don't get up. I am here, so just carry on with your prasada".
As Murari became absorbed in taking his meal, Visvambhara slowly moved closer.
Then suddenly, Nimai passed urine on Murari's plate.
"What?! What are you doing?! Shame, shame on you!", said Murari as he quickly got up.
Clapping His hands and dancing, Gauranga gleefully said:
"Giving up the path of devotion, you have adopted the path of yoga. You should forget about
karma and jnana and just worship Radha and Krishna with all of your heart. Become a rasika
bhakta and you will taste the blissful mellows of loving Krshna. One attached to material things
can't do Krishna bhajana and his consciousness remains low and impure."
"Do you understand these things? Lord Hari is omnipotent and full of compassion. He is the
treasure and the very life of the gopis at Vrindavana. Why do you hurt the Lord by not serving Him?"
This particular Lila really touched my heart.
I work with people too, helping them resolve their personal issues.
And this Lila made me think and re-exam my approach to life. What am I really doing, why do I like to help people?
What is in this helping endeavor for Him, my Sri Krsna?
Am I hurting Him too, by not serving Him?
For sure.
My present state is not that of a pure bhakti, obviously.
I read once about Bhaktivinode Thakura's statement:
"Even if whole world is on fire, one should still worship Hari, exclusively."
(I don't know exact words, so I am paraphrasing here)
What a heart, what a devotion! How high a standard of surrender this is!
But, for me, now, reality is that I feel compassion for the people in troubles, so I help them.
I can't really deny this.
AND I focus on serving Hari as well...
How do you handle your duties in life and devotional practice?
How do you see issues in this world? As something worth bothering or as something that will be taken care of even if you focus exclusively on your daily bhajana?
hariii bol!
