Because of their favorability, the six qualities beginning with enthusiasm should be honored –

bhajane utsaha yara bhitare bahire, sudurllabha krsna-bhakti pabe dhire dhire krsna-bhakti prati yara visvasa niscaya, sraddhavan bhaktiman jana sei haya krsna-seva na paiya dhira-bhave yei, bhaktira sadhana kare bhaktiman sei yahate krsnera seva krsnera santosa, sei karme vrati sada na karaye rosa krsnera abhakta-jana-sanga parihari’, bhaktiman bhakta-sange sada bhaje hari krsna-bhakta yaha kare tad anusarane, bhaktiman acaraya jivane marane ei chaya jana haya bhakti adhikari, visvera-mangala kare bhakti paracari (Bengali verse by Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura)

“Within, without, he who serves with (1) enthusiasm will gradually attain to the rarest pure devotion. In devotion to Lord Krsna, one who has (2) firm faith is a person loyal and devoted on the path. And if Sri Krsna’s service he fails to attain, yet practices with (3) patience – devout is such a man. (4) That which serves Lord Krsna, for only Krsna’s pleasure, in such action, the devotee can never feel anger. (5) Abandoning the company of the non-devotee, ever with devotees, the devout serve Sri Hari. (6) Following the pure devotees’ direction on the path, the true devout practice, as a matter of  life and death. Who follow these six qualities qualify for pure devotion – they purify the universe by their preaching mission.” (Bengali verse translation)

[from Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar, Sri Prapanna Jivanamrtam 3.5]

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The various tribulations of the unsurrendered souls are simply due to their obsession with the unreal –

“O Lord, as long as the people of the world do not take the safe and sound shelter of Your lotus feet, they remain full of anxiety about their wealth, their bodies, and their friends; overwhelmed with lamentation, hankering, obsession, and intense greed, they cannot obtain relief from the suffering which is deeply rooted in their imaginary conceptions of I and mine.”

[Bhagavatam, 3.9.6]

[from Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar, Sri Prapanna Jivanamritam 2.21]
To continue reading –

Even the lowest of men are liberated by surrender –

“O twice-born, persons who are devoid of all virtuous practices,
who are outcast, rogues, deceitful, audacious, egotistic, addicted to
intoxicants, hotbeds of sin, malicious, cruel-natured, grossly
infatuated with son, wife, wealth, etc. – even such extremely fallen
persons are liberated by surrendering unto the lotus feet of Sri
Govinda.”
Nrsimha Purana

[from Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaja’s Sri Prapanna Jivanamritam 2.10]

To continue reading –

The unsurrendered soul is perpetually deceived; thus, the state of
surrender is eternal –

“A birth in the human species is so valuable that it is aspired
for by the demigods. Those who, despite having taken such a birth,
do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda – they deceive
themselves perpetually.”

Brhama Vaivartta Purana

(Srila B. R. Sridhar Maharaja, Sri Prapanna Jivanamritam 2.7)

To continue reading –

Dandavat pranams,

Attached is the Princeton Bhakti Vedanta Institute Report – March 4, 2017.

“Gopal Lifts A Mountain”

– excerpt –
“As just a little boy, Krishna saw his father (Nanda Maharaja) and
the other residents of Vrindavan making elaborate preparations for
the worship of King Indra because He provides them rain for their
fields and crops. There were all kinds of food offerings being cooked
with all types of grains, milk products, fruits and vegetables. Krishna
already knew everything but still He asked Nanda Maharaja ‘what are
all the decorations and bhog preparations for?’ Nanda Maharaja
explained that ‘This is an annual tradition that is made in honor of
Lord Indra, the king of heaven, for many generations.’ After his
explanation, Krishna told the Vrajavasis (residents of Vrindavan),
‘You don’t have to worship Indra. Sri Govardhan Hill is more
important than Indra. The Hill is providing all the food and water you
need for your cows and nourishment.” Sripad Puri Maharaja
continued, “On getting this news, Indra became very angry and
ordered the rain and thunder to punish the Vrajavasis so that no one
would make such an offense again. Lord Indra could not believe that
Krishna, who He considered to be a mere mortal child, could dare to
oppose His worship and instead choose to worship a pile of rocks such
as Sri Govardhan. He felt the Vrajavasis had rejected all the
demigods over whom he was king.”

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Your humble servant
Kushum devi dasi
(New York)