“This is the real identity of the jiva souls: we are all servitor, not enjoyer, but other way enjoyment will come through service, and if we can proceed in this way very easily we can make our fortune.”  Morning darshan, 18th February 2007, Nabadwip (podcast link)

(More photos from Venezulan devotees’ arrival below, 18th February 2007, Nabadwip)

Some slokas from today’s lecture:

te taṁ bhuktvā svarga-lokaṁ viśālaṁ
kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 9.21)

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁspṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.32) 

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātuchit
sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ
(Padma-purāṇa)

uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata
kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā
durgaṁ pathas tat kavayo vadanti78
(Kaṭha-upaniṣad: 1.3.14)

kona bhāgye kona jīvera ‘śraddhā’ yadi haya
tabe sei jīva ‘sādhu-saṅga’ ye karaya
(CC Madhya 23.9)

athavā bahunaitena
kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat
(Bhagavad-gītā 10.42)

tarko ’pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā
nāsāv ṛṣir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ
mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ
[Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117, CC 17.186] 
Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person. Consequently, as the śastra confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.

ātma-samarpaṇe gelā abhimāna
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Atma Samarpane, 1