Volcanic Energy (Lessons From the Life of Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja)

"Srila Prabhapada used to describe Pujyapada Madhava Mahararaja as having ‘volcanic energy’. The apparent end point of our attempts to serve Srila Prabupada was for him a begginnig point of fresh endeavous. My personal opinion is that he is comparable to none is that he is comparable to none is that Srila Vakresvara pandita, an associate of Sriman Mahabrabhu o could dance continuously during kirtana for seventy-two hours without becoming fatigued."

Sri Srimad Bhakti Vijfiana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja is one of the foremost disciples of Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja, a dear and powerful commander in the army of Sala Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. During his time in the matha, he received not only the personal association of his gurudeva and the chance to intimately serve him, but also the opportunity to intimately serve many disciples of Srila Prabhupada. As a result of this service, he received their affection and profuse blessings to realize the deep truths of Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta. Through the example of his flawless conduct, Srila Bharat Gosvami Maharaja teaches that non-sectarianism and glorifying and serving the Vaisnavas are the greatest assets for those who wish to advance in spiritual life, and that serving and glorifying the Vaisnavas is more important than serving and glorifying the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Himself. He is especially known for his encyclopedic knowledge of GaudIya Matha history and his firm faith in vaishava-seva. Being a well-respected, stalwart Vaisnava, his instructions and guidance are sought after by common and advanced Vaisnavas alike.

The words of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, the very embodiment of Sri Gauranga-deva's mercy potency Sri Gauranga),were the very life and soul of my most worshipful gurupada-padma, Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja. Throughout his life, Guru Maharaja deeply imbibed the principles of Srila Prabhupada and perfectly followed his conduct, without the slightest deviation. This book is a collection of my personal experiences with Guru Maharaja, as well as my personal views on the lessons to be learned from those experiences.

Although externally, the precepts of one pure acarya may appear different from those of another pure acarya—as may the methods through which they express those precepts in their conduct—they are, in fact, non-different and completely harmonious. Thus, this publication is beneficial not only for the disciples and grand-disciples of Guru Mahraja,but for all devotees who sincerely desire to understand and implement in their life the finer points of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings, for it provides an account of the exemplary life of a pure Vaisnava eicarya. By reading this publication, sincere devotees will certainly be inspired to eagerly traverse the path leading to pure bhakti.

In my advanced age, I am unable to perform any physical service, and my memory is beginning to fade. My only desire is that I be granted the boon that until my last breath, I remain able to speak hari-katha and glorify the eternal associates of Srila Prabhupada and his authentic followers, regardless of institutional considerations. It was on the principle of 'unity in diversity' that I received the guidance, blessings, and support of various powerful Vaisnavas, and thereby came to understand—and to a meager extent realize—the adhoksaja-vastu, or that which is beyond the domain of the material senses.

The publication you hold in your hands is an abridged version of a more voluminous edition we had hoped to publish by Utthana Ekadasi, the appearance day of my beloved master. There is a Sanskrit saying: "sreyamsi bahu vighnani—for one who performs auspicious work, many obstacles are inevitable." In our life,also,we experience endless obstacles at each and every step. Still, because of the mercy and encouragement of §ri guru and of the soft-hearted devotees, we never become discouraged.

In the near future, the publishers and I hope to release the full edition of Volcanic Energy, but whether we succeed in doing so is solely dependent upon Bhagavan's sweet will. Although one may laboriously spend gallons of blood, sweat and tears to accomplish a task, one's endeavors will never come to fruition without the sanction of the Lord.

Accepting this as truth, we will push forward with our publication services and accept the results as His grace.

As the nature of such a publication as this necessitates historical accuracy, the names of individuals and the specific details of significant events have been included to the extent that our memory allows. Whatever has been written in this book has been written purely for the service and glory of my most worshipful gurupada-padma and with the intention to inspire sincere devotees to hear about his flawless conceptions and conduct. Keeping Guru Maharaja's instructions and teachings on my head, I have guided the editors to express sensitive subjects in a manner consistent with the etiquette of bhagavat-dharma. We intentionally excluded certain subjects and events that may be deemed sensitive for some. If as a result of our attempt to preserve historical accuracy, someone experiences personal grief from reading any part of this text, I appeal to his or her vaisnavata and beg forgiveness.

The incidences described in this book that took place before I took shelter at Guru Maharaja's lotus feet have been presented as I have heard them, either directly from Guru Maharaja's lotus mouth, from the disciples of Srila Prabhupada, from my godbrothers, or from Guru Maharaja's mother, who made me a recipient of her endless affection and thus conferred profuse blessings upon me. We have presented all narrations exactly as they happened, without exaggeration or embellishment.

The content of this publication has been adapted from lectures I have given in various places and presented here in the style known as bhava-anuvada, which clearly conveys the moods and intended meanings of my spoken words.

After transcribing an article, the publishers read that article to me and included any corrections or additional points I gave them.They then edited that adjusted draft and organized its content. As with any anthology of anecdotes, the stories herein are independent accounts that can be read without concern for sequence. The reader can start and stop at any point without loss.

I am deeply appreciative of the devotees involved in this publication for their ardent efforts and genuine desire to preserve and share the teachings and exemplary conduct of my most worshipgurupada-padma. In this book, they have, in a manner utterly devoid of speculation, presented the vatii and conduct of Guru Maharaja purely, just as I have heard and witnessed it.