A Shining Figure
Burnaby, British Columbia
Today's highlight was undoubtedly a well deserved homage to an outstanding monk in our succession line, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, our guru's predecessor. Today was the anniversary of his passing. To honor this great soul who had the vision to give the entire non-Bharat world, (outside of India) the opportunity to be recipients of the Gita's message, an event was held at noon.
Bhaktisiddhanta was a life-long celibate, a teacher of the subtle science of the self, an astronomer, a writer, an innovator, and a visionary. He is described as a ray of Vishnu.
Born on February 6th, 1874, Bhaktisiddhanta led an active life as a mission man, He opened the Gaudia Math with sixty-four branches, mostly in Asia. It is an institution that educates the public in devotional service.
He said of his own mortal status "Our span of life is short. Our life will be crowned with success if the body wears out while constantly speaking Hari-katha (spiritual conversation)."
Also "Let our bodies, which are like those of aged oxen, be offered into the sankirtan-yajna (chanting culture). We do not aspire to be any kind of heroes of karma and dharma...In this world we are compelled to make decisions regarding objects that evoke our attraction and repulsion, both those that we want and those we do not."
In addition to his eloquently-put messages. I also want to mention that he inspired our guru, Srila Prabhupada, to set sail for the world that knew little about karma, dharma and devotion.
3 KM
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