Sridhar Maharaja’s god-brothers saw in Govinda Maharaj – in some sense, you can say, even before Guru Maharaj – Babaji Maharaj, Swami Maharaj told him, “This is the one. He is the one you should invest all the wealth you extracted from Srila Saraswati Thakur and all the wealth you possess by your own internal culture – here is the fit recipient for all of that.”
The Chaitanya Saraswat Math is what was conceived in the heart of Srila Guru Maharaj – that is what it is. It’s not a building or a group of buildings, or some property on a deed, located in a particular section of Nabadwip. It what was conceived in the heart of Srila Guru Maharaj.
If Krishna consciousness – even Krishna consciousness – is asserted, if it’s expressed with self-assertion – it’s an exercise in ego. It turns into something else… It’s divine flow descending and that qualified heart is transmitting something divine that’s descending. That’s not something you decide to do.
Sridhar Maharaj said, “Do not doubt that if you are sincere in your effort, your endeavor, Mahaprabhu will personally supply all the resources necessary for your seva.” Then I thought, “Oh, what am I worried about?”
Imitating the maha-bhagavatas we become degraded. Follow them, do no imitate them. Do what they say, not as they do. -
Can we imagine that Krishna, the Infinite, could actually be genuinely attracted to the finite? – It seems almost absurd.
Ruci means: those activities that not only were tasteless, but maybe even painfully executed reached the point where there’s some genuine taste for doing that.
The finite achieving the Infinite: this is so noble, so high, so inconceivable to achieve and so compelling that if after innumerable lifetimes of the attempt - that one cannot give up the pursuit – that’ the point.
If it’s all: what we can get in this lifetime? What I can get during this morning reading? What I can squeeze out of this mala – by taking Krishna-nam? – It’s not the proper approach and it’s so short-sighted.
The finite is going to capture the Infinite. So Guru Maharaja’s saying, “It’s that high, that noble and that compelling that you can’t give it up – even after lifetime, after lifetime, after lifetime of pursuit and apparent non-achievement.” So we will see, actually, Krishna consciousness is realized in the search for Sri Krishna.