A Discussion by Sri Haragopal Sepuri, from the Letter of Pagal Haranath; Part IV, Letter No. 50 : to Gopendubhushan Bandopadhyaya

(1) LIFE AND DEATH :

The Lord writers, “Your letter appeared so sweet. Do not forget this old brother of yours. Remember him sometimes, brother dear. I feel like attaining heaven when I receive the news of your welfare. May your devotion to Krishna increase day by day till it attains the highest level ! This is my desire and ardent prayer to the Merciful.

Brother, we shall play our roles in this drama that we have come to play. We shall go behind the scenes as soon as our roles are over and shall emerge again in new garbs. This is what we call, in our ignorance, life and death and become terrified. May the Lord never let this mistaken fear take hold of our minds ! May we carry out His orders and make our “entries and exits” with a smile on our faces ! May we come back through a succession of lives as one of His people !

Brother, I am pleased to note that you had a glance at “Pallibasi.” May the “Pallibasi” find a place in every home through your care and efforts ! May the Lord help you in your work ! Brother, remember this old brother of yours occasionally. The youngest boy has taken his bath (after an illness) today by the grace of Krishna. We are well. But as to the body, this is after all a physical frame and this and that happens as usual. You need have no worry on that account. Moreover, we have been here long and passed many nights acting our parts. We need some rest now. Our eyes are heavy; we should sleep presently. You have now appeared on stage with your powers intact. May you by the grace of the Lord satisfy Him by playing your roles as He desires ! Take one of the big roles and be considered as one of His own people. My desire is that you perform the Lord’s work with a healthy body.

REVIEW : “Brother, we shall play our roles in this drama that we have come to play. We shall go behind the scenes as soon as our roles are over and shall emerge again in new garbs. This is what we call, in our ignorance, life and death and become terrified,” so writes the Lord.

The Lord has called life as participation in a play of drama. This sort of understanding is necessary till one is enamoured with the love of the Lord. Some time brother Tilak Ghoshal sent me some words of Kahlil Gibron, the Prophet. When a shepherd is called into the presence of the King, the shepherd starts shivering with fear, though the intention is that the King is going to honour him. Similarly is our fear of going back to the presence of the Lord (death), though the intention is that the Lord would honour us. I felt that one of the signs of grace of the Lord is absence of fear of death. It is only by His grace that we could overcome this fear. Our Lord has given sentimental reason to death; “entries and exits,” from the world; the entry is not for permanent residence and the exit is only for returning again. Thus the Lord has given us the concept that liberation is outside the game of love.

In His letter to Nrinsingh Babu (I/7), the Lord writes, “Birth and death are identical. Not knowing this and dreading death we die seven times daily. But viewing matters a little calmly we can realize that the same amount of merriment which we manifest in birth ought also to be displayed in death. Incarnation and dissolution are just the same, there being not the least difference between them.”

(2) NITYANANDA :

The Lord writes, “Do not forget Nityananda. Brother dear, it is time that beings may arrive at destination even if they forget Nityananda, but then the roads are very dull, uneven, and full of terrors. So I ask you not to lose hold of Nitai’s feet. Let people say whatever they like. Listen to everything you are told, but keep your life and soul bound fast at the feet of Nitai. There is no second person who is more merciful. Behold the sweet faces of Gaur and Nitai and take Charanamrita every day. This will fulfill all your desires. Consider Nitai your own in weal or woe. Do not for the sake of merely sustaining and nourishing the body divide your allegiance. The body is sure to pass away some day, but the blot will endure. So I ask you to take the feet of Nitai as your only shelter like a chaste wife. Do not try to reason it out. If anybody comes forward to argue the point, leave the place or feign ignorance. My last word is that if you want joy if you want to float in love, and if you want to make One who regulates the Universe your very own, then you must take complete refuge in my Nitai. My salutations to your revered father. My love and affection to you all. May the Lord keep you in bliss ! Convey my affectionate love to father Prakash. Write to me about him.

REVIEW : The Lord has indicated what our attitude towards Nitai should be :

”Do not lose hold of Nitai’s feet. Do not listen to what others say about Nitai. Keep your life and soul bound fast at the feet of Nitai. Consider Nitai your own in weal or woe. Take the feet of Nitai as your only shelter like a chaste wife.”

He further advised, ”If anybody comes forward to argue the point (about Nitai), leave the place or feign ignorance.” We have discussed this point in the review of Lord’s letter (IV/49), where He wrote, “Brother, dear, never enter into any argument with anybody for or against Gaur and Nitai.” This means that we should not argue at all in respect of our Lord. The reason is that the Lord is not only a matter of individual faith but also dearer to the heart; therefore any critical remark about the Lord would cause hurt very deeply. More over the Lord is a subject beyond the reach of intellect.

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Jai Haranath Jai Kusumkumari Jai