Srila Rupa Gosvami remained in Jagannath Puri where he could write his dramas at the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
One day Mahaprabhu appeared while Srila Rupa Gosvami was writing his book. After inspecting a palm leaf that was actually a page from the manuscript, the Lord praised the fine handwriting. And after reading the verse that was written there, the Lord became overwhelmed with ecstatic love.
One has to learn about the beauty and transcendental nature of the Holy Name of the Lord by hearing the revealed scriptures from the lips of pure devotees. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has forbidden us to hear the Holy Name of Krsna chanted by non-Vaishnavas, for it will have an adverse effect.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went with Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara to visit Srila Rupa Gosvami and Haridasa Thakura. After hearing the beautiful verses written by Srila Rupa Gosvami, all the devotees were filled with transcendental bliss.
The special function of Srila Rupa Gosvami is to establish within this world the mission to fulfill the inner desires of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu so that the entire world can know of Him and His sankirtana movement.
Svarupa Damodara explained to Ramananda Raya that Srila Rupa Gosvami, under the inspiration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, had divided his manuscript into two plays, one concerning Lord Krsna’s pastimes in Dvaraka and Mathura (Lalita-madhava), and the other concerning His pastimes in Vrndavana (Vidagdha-madhava).
Sripada Puri Maharaja notes that Srila Prahupada did not advise reading these plays. Without proper development in pure devotional service, one can not properly relish the transcendental nature of these dramas. As Srila Guru Maharaja (Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Gosvami Maharaja) would remind us, the ideal is to always keep those things above our heads, as worshippable by us.
Here is the recording of 30 June 2012 sadhu-sanga.
The Lord is situated in the heart of all living beings, and thus He knows very well the consciousness and desires of all individuals. As soon as the Lord finds that a particular soul is very eager to advance in spiritual life, He sends His bona fide representative. To get the assistance and help of a bona fide spiritual master means to receive the direct merciful help of the Supreme Lord Himself.
The First Canto ends with Maharaja Pariksit begging Srila Sukadeva Gosvami to show the way of perfection for all persons, the unalloyed duty of everyone in all circumstances, and especially to explain the duty of one who is about to die. He humbly requests him to explain what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and also what he should not do.
The Second Canto begins with Sukadeva Gosvami praising the King’s questions because they were very beneficial for everyone. Then he warned that grhamedhis are blind to the knowledge of the ultimate truth because they are envious of others and restlessly spend their lives competing against one another. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada elaborates on the grhamedhis, who are householders who live only for the benefit of their body and bodily relations. Grhastas are householders who live with their families, but who live a Krsna-conscious life, and thus are free from all kinds of envy.
Human life is not meant merely for hard labor for economic development, nor is it meant for sex indulgence like that of dogs and hogs. It is especially meant for making a solution to the problems of material life (birth, death, old age and disease) and the miseries thereof (three-fold miseries).
Thus, Sukadeva Gosvami explains, one who desires to be free from all miseries must approach a bonafide spiritual master in order to hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead, Who is the Supersoul, the Controller and the Savior from all miseries. The highest perfection of human life, achieved neither by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, nor by perfect discharge of one’s occupational duties, is to render devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and to remember Him at the end of life. Sukadeva further explains that even though he was already situated perfectly in transcendence (realization of impersonal Brahman), still he became attracted to hearing about the transcendental pastimes of the Lord (realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna).
Sripada Puri Maharaja mentioned that the character of a genuine brahmana is distinguished by two qualities: he is both learned and humble. One who has real knowledge is fully cognizant of its limitations.
Here is the recording of 27 June 2012 sadhu-sanga.
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, taking shelter at the lotus feet of the six Goswamis, prayed that all impediments to his writing would be removed. This same attitude is appropriate for all devotees who work to spread Krsna consciousness.
Sivananda Sena allowed a dog to follow him on his journey to Jagannatha Puri. Through an interesting chain of events, this dog gained the favor of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In so doing, the dog obtained a spiritual body and departed for Vaikuntha, the spiritual kingdom. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada notes that there is no harm in taking birth again and again. Our only desire should be to take birth under the care of a Vaisnava.
Here is the recording of 16 June 2012 sadhu-sanga.